We are setting our 10-Year Target on the V/TO® but feel completely blind because we cannot predict how AI will transform our industry over a decade. How do we use AI itself to simulate future market dynamics and set a realistic long-term direction?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A 10-Year Target is not a detailed operational blueprint; it is a North Star. Trying to predict specific technological capabilities ten years out is impossible, but you can still establish a clear strategic direction by focusing on human needs.

To gain clarity during your annual planning session, employ AI for Scenario Simulation to predict outcomes. You can feed an advanced model your current business financials, competitor profiles, and macroeconomic trends.

Ask the AI to simulate economic outcomes, competitive responses, or stakeholder reactions under various rates of technological disruption.

Use these simulations to identify which core human needs in your industry will remain constant. As experts Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee suggest, while machines will automate cognitive tasks, human-centric skills like empathy, complex negotiation, and trust will become increasingly valuable.

Your 10-Year Target should focus on dominating the high-value, relationship-driven aspects of your market that technology cannot easily replace.

By using AI to stress-test your strategic plan, your leadership team can align on a long-term vision that is both ambitious and resilient. Use the technology to map out the possibilities, then use your human judgment to commit to a singular direction on your V/TO®.