Rewiring for AI: From ambition to advantage

Successful AI transformation requires moving beyond isolated pilot projects toward scaling end-to-end workflows across a company’s entire footprint. McKinsey partners Rob Levin and Kate Smaje, authors of *Rewired*, emphasize that organizations achieving the highest impact—averaging a 20% EBITDA uplift—focus on three or fewer strategic domains rather than spreading resources thinly. This shift demands a fundamental retooling of talent, technology stacks, and operating models to accommodate agentic AI. Companies like DBS demonstrate that building foundational capabilities enables faster production cycles, moving from 18-month timelines to two-month intervals. Ultimately, AI adoption is a people-centric challenge requiring top-down CEO commitment and distributed accountability across the leadership team. By treating AI integration as a continuous "muscle" rather than a one-time project, leaders can navigate the destabilizing nature of rapid technological change and secure long-term competitive advantages.