In this episode of Beginner’s Guide to AI, Matt Hicks, CEO of Red Hat, unpacks why the future of business strategy in AI mirrors the age of the railroads. Just as railroads transformed industries, AI is laying down the tracks for the next wave of innovation — and businesses must decide whether to board or be left behind.

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🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why AI business strategy is today’s equivalent of building railroads
How Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) will reshape brand visibility
The balance between experimentation and responsibility in AI adoption
Why processes vs. innovation remains a critical tension
How leaders can prepare for AI-driven business transformation

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

“AI is like the railroads — it will need its barons to build the infrastructure that carries everyone forward.”
“The fear isn’t that AI replaces us; it’s that we don’t adapt fast enough to what it enables.”

⏱ Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Red Hat’s Role in AI
03:01 Why Awareness of AI Technology Matters
06:00 Creating Progression: From Awareness to Action
09:01 Personal Experiences with AI Change
12:00 Recognizing Business Patterns in AI Transformation
15:01 Patterns, Fears, and Early Adoption Signals
18:01 Fear vs Opportunity: Why People Hesitate on AI
21:00 Balancing Experimentation with Responsibility
27:00 The Maturity Curve of AI Adoption
30:00 When Processes Prevail Over Innovation
42:00 AI and the Software Industry’s Perspective
45:00 Looking Ahead: Strategy and the Future of AI

🌐 Where to find Matt Hicks

LinkedIn: Matt Hicks
Red Hat: redhat.com

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🎵 Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Matt Hicks of Red Hat on Why AI Needs Its Railroad Barons

A Beginner's Guide to AI