AI Wants In, Can Your Systems Handle It?

Hi!

We’re back this week summarizing Mary Meeker’s 340-page report on AI in business and some cool announcements from OpenAI on integrating your existing systems more easily with AI.

Mary Meeker is back with her iconic trend report — and this time it’s all AI.
Yes, it’s 340 pages. No, you don’t have to read it. We did that for you.

Why it matters:
AI is no longer a "tech initiative" — it’s the new operating layer for business. The report outlines a dramatic realignment in talent, tools, and strategy. The takeaways? Small and mid-market businesses are perfectly positioned to leapfrog slower-moving giants — if they act with clarity and intent.

🧠 Top insights for your org:

• Talent is shifting fast: AI-related IT job postings are up +448% since 2018. Those not evolving with AI are being left behind.

• Workflows are transforming: Agents, copilots, and ambient tools are already taking over repetitive work — from documentation to customer service.

• AI is a C-suite priority: It’s now mentioned by over 50% of S&P 500 CEOs on earnings calls. Mid-market execs can’t afford to ignore it.

• The focus has flipped: AI isn’t just about cost savings anymore. It’s driving growth, sales productivity, and customer experience.

💡 How to think about it:

1. Reframe productivity:
   What if 20% of your team's time could be refocused on strategic work by offloading admin with AI?

2. Upskill by doing:
   Start AI literacy sprints inside your org. Everyone should know how to prompt, automate, and evaluate — not just your IT lead.

3. Redesign the employee experience:
   Workers expect AI support. Integrate AI into onboarding, training, and daily workflows — not just in tools, but in mindset.

4. Be revenue-minded:
   The best AI use cases aren't hidden. They’re wherever you have friction in sales, service, or insight generation. Go there first.

📈 The bottom line:
AI is a multiplier — for good or bad. It will amplify whatever foundation your business is built on. Now is the time to tune it for growth.

Check out the full report here →

Check out Mary’s interview with Axios →

What happened: OpenAI dropped a major update: ChatGPT now connects directly to the tools your team already uses — Google Drive, Calendar, Mail, Slack, HubSpot, and more.

Why it matters: Mid-market teams now get real-time, context-rich AI support across their existing tech stack. Instead of siloed chatbots, ChatGPT becomes a true work assistant — digging into files, parsing past meetings, surfacing priorities, and citing its sources.

• Search across Google Drive, Slack, and Outlook in one prompt.

• Pull up docs, links, and meeting notes directly in ChatGPT.

• Record meetings, transcribe them, and summarize with follow-ups.

It’s the beginning of AI as the ultimate cross-platform operator — with your own data as fuel.

My Experience 💬

I connected ChatGPT to my Google Calendar, Drive, and Gmail last night. Then I asked it:
"Create a report on project milestones from our AI rollout."

Nine minutes later, I had:

• A week-by-week summary of all key events

• Direct links to the emails, meetings, and folders

• A shockingly accurate project overview

It was like having an AI chief of staff that knows where everything lives and actually backs it up.

The big picture: Every tool we use is becoming AI-enhanced. The more context and connections we give these models, the more useful and precise they become. This isn’t about replacing workflows — it’s about supercharging them.

📺 Check out their announcement video → 

🛠️ Or check out the run down of how to set it up →

Everyone wants AI. Few are truly ready.

Why it matters:
Notion surveyed 1,000+ execs and uncovered the top blocker to AI adoption: integrating it into existing systems. Think: incompatible workflows, strained resources, messy data, and a lack of trust.

📉 The friction:

• Teams are jumping between tools just to get work done

• AI adoption is often slowed by manual processes and tool fragmentation

• Resource and trust issues hold back real progress

📈 What’s driving interest?

• 57% of leaders want AI to boost productivity

• 44% are actively investing in AI-supported workflows

• They’re craving less friction, not more features

💡 Why this hits home for SMBs:
Switchboard sees this daily—leaders are excited about AI but don’t know how to make it real. What’s missing? A clear AI strategy, integration plan, and roadmap.

🔧 What to do next:

• Audit your systems for AI readiness

• Start small: Choose tools that embed AI, not tack it on

• Build a roadmap aligned to real pain points—not hype

👀 Check out more insights from Notion here →

Chat soon 👋