Stop Token Maxxing: Find Where AI Actually Pays Off | Jiaona Zhang

Organizations struggle to quantify AI ROI because they lack visibility into token spend versus actual business outcomes. Rather than simply mandating AI usage, leaders must prioritize efficient workflows that reclaim human time from repetitive drudgery. Jay-Z, CPO at Laurel and former product leader at Airbnb and Dropbox, advocates for a "captain" model where humans retain accountability while delegating tasks to AI agents. This shift requires re-architecting systems to allow non-technical team members to ship features, effectively turning them into go-to-market engineers. As technology moats become less durable, companies must build lasting value through brand trust and unique data access. Ultimately, the goal is not to replace human labor but to optimize the human-AI partnership, returning time to individuals and enabling organizations to focus on high-leverage, uniquely human problem-solving.