Most Companies Are Losing the AI Race (Because They're Stuck at Level 1)

We're in the Middle of an AI Gold Rush (Yet Most Are Falling Behind)

I've been watching companies use AI for the past year.

Ok, I've been watching them abuse AI.

The same pattern shows up every single time. Companies get excited, buy AI apps, hire "AI consultants," and then... nothing changes.

At the same time, a small handful of companies are absolutely crushing it with AI. They're multiplying their output or cutting costs significantly—often both.

So what the heck are these guys they doing differently?

They know how to go through the three levels of AI adoption.

Level 1: Tool Hopping (Where 90% Get Stuck)

This is where almost everyone stops.

You're playing with ChatGPT. Copying prompts from influencers.

But the biggest sign that you're stuck on Level 1? You're consuming too much information about AI—be it from LinkedIn or YouTube.

At the beginning, chasing AI tools feels productive. Because hey, at least you're doing something, right?

Weeks and months pass by, but you're not driving leads. You're operational costs are as high as they've ever been.

Tool hopping can be compared to buying gym memberships. You have access to the tools, but access doesn't equal results.

The worst part: your competitors at Level 1 are doing the exact same thing. And now you're all stuck in the same place, thinking you're ahead.

Level 2: Building Systems (Where Money Gets Made)

Few companies reach this point. But why?

Because it's painful. You have to dig deep to identify structural problems. It might even involve fights and disputing in your company.

This involves:

• Mapping your business processes
• Aligning and simplifying your SaaS stack
• Turning isolated data silos into one integrated datacenter

Have you noticed that I didn't mentioned AI yet? Because the things above are just the foundation of Level 2. And to be honest, you should have done this 5 years ago.

The bad news: this needs a lot of time and effort. And might require skills your company doesn't have yet.

The good news: when you have all of this, you can put AI on top of this, and it will feel easy to do so.

The Difference Is Clear

Level 1: You're using ChatGPT to write emails.

Level 2: You're connecting ChatGPT to your CRM via an API, to your email platform, to your calendar. The system writes the email, sends it at the optimal time, and follows up automatically if there's no response.

Another example: you're not just transcribing meetings with AI. You're building a workflow where the meeting gets recorded, transcribed, summarized, action items get extracted, tasks get assigned, and follow-ups get scheduled. All without you touching anything.

This is where AI actually starts making (or at least) saving money.

Now here's the million-dollar question: What sign shows you've reached Level 2?

Your systems run without you.

Level 1 requires constant human input. You're the bottleneck. You write the prompt, review the output, edit it, use it, then start over tomorrow.

Level 2 removes you from the equation. The system runs, learns, and improves while you sleep.

Level 3: Rethinking Everything (Where Markets Get Disrupted)

Trigger warning: this is next-level stuff. And honestly? Most companies don't need to get here.

Level 3 requires the complete redesign of your entire business around AI.

At this level, AI isn't a tool. It's the foundation.

Jasper is the perfect example.

Before: They sold AI copywriting tools. You'd use their software to generate blog posts and ad copy. Nice tool. Lots of competitors.

After: They became an AI marketing platform that manages entire campaigns, maintains brand voice across channels, and generates complete content calendars. They're not helping you write copy anymore. They're running your entire content operation.

The transformation? What used to cost companies $15,000 per month in content team salaries now costs $99 per month in software.

Here's what makes Level 3 different: you're not asking "how can AI help my current process?" You're asking "if I started this business today with AI available, what would it look like?"

Those are completely different questions.

And the companies that get here first? They don't just win. They own the game.

Why You're Stuck (And How to Move Up)

If you're honest with yourself, you're probably at Level 1.

That's totally fine, most companies hang out there.

Because they're treating AI like a calculator. You put in a number, you get a result, you use it, then you move on.

So how do you move up?

From Level 1 to Level 2

Stop collecting tools. Start connecting them.

Pick one process that eats your time every week. Map it out. Every single step. Then ask: "Where can AI remove me from this?"

Don't automate the whole thing at once. Start with one connection. One workflow. Get it working. Then add the next piece.

I've seen companies go from 10 hours of manual work to 2 hours of oversight just by connecting three running tools with make.com.

From Level 2 to Level 3

This one's harder. And honestly? Most companies don't need to get there.

Level 3 requires you to question everything. Your pricing model. Your service delivery. Your entire value proposition.

It's not for everyone. But if you're serious about it, start by asking: "What would this business look like if we built it from scratch today?"

Then have the guts to actually rebuild it.

The Companies That Figure This Out Will Win

I assume that the gap between Level 1 and Level 3 companies is going to become massive.

Level 1 companies will keep playing with prompts while their costs stay high and their growth stays flat.

Level 3 companies will redesign entire industries while operating at 10x the efficiency.

And Level 2? That's where most successful companies will land. Systems that scale. Processes that run automatically. Teams that focus on high-value work instead of repetitive tasks.

The AI infrastructure exists, and the tools keep getting better.

The question is: are you going to keep tool hopping? Or are you going to build something that actually scales?

Most companies are stuck at Level 1.

Don't be most companies.