Imagine it is the late 1800s. Electricity is new, mysterious, even feared. Entire industries run on steam and gaslight. Most leaders hesitate, unsure of the risks. But a few see the future, wire their factories, electrify their supply chains, and transform the way business is done. They do not just compete. They redefine the game.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is our electricity. And it is not arriving gradually. It is advancing at the speed of light.

In the 2025 Voice of The ELC Member survey, 85 percent of senior executives named AI their top strategic priority, ahead of economic volatility and geopolitical risk. This is more than a trend. It is a signal that AI is now a central driver of competitive advantage and long-term relevance. Leaders who lean in now are setting the terms of the future.

Yet most leaders are still standing at the edge.

While executive awareness is high, execution is not. The same ELC survey found that while 84.3 percent of companies have appointed Chief Data Officers, only 33.1 percent have established Chief AI Officer roles. Many organizations are still operating in pilot mode, with no real integration plan. We are holding the wires, but the power is not flowing because we haven’t connected them.

Meanwhile, the workforce is already moving. LinkedIn’s 2025 “Skills on the Rise” report names AI literacy as the fastest-growing skill globally. Across sectors, professionals are building fluency in prompt engineering, machine learning, and AI-enhanced workflows. They are not waiting for permission. They are preparing for transformation.

Hiring is one of the clearest examples of where AI is making a measurable impact. The 2025 LinkedIn Hiring Manager Survey shows that nearly half of companies now use AI in recruitment, and the results speak volumes:

• Time-to-hire has been reduced by 50 percent
• Diversity in candidate pipelines has increased by 35 percent
• Cost-per-hire is down by 22 percent

This is not just about automation. It is about simplification. AI takes the friction out of complex processes, uncovers insights at scale, and gives leaders the space to focus on strategy and people. In essence, AI lets leaders lead.

This is the moment. Just as electricity transformed every corner of the modern world, AI is poised to reshape the foundations of business, leadership, and growth.

The future will not pause. AI is already changing your industry. The only question is whether you will be one of the leaders shaping what comes next.

Integrating AI Leadership – Resources

Whether you’re aiming to deepen your understanding of AI, align it with your strategic vision, or drive implementation across your organization, the journey starts with surrounding yourself with the right voices and information. Below is a curated and diverse list of trusted newsletters and influential thought leaders, all focused on making AI more accessible, ethical, and effective for leaders across industries.

Newsletters to Build AI Fluency and Strategic Insight

• TLDR AI A fast, daily digest of the most relevant AI news, research, and emerging tools—perfect for busy executives.
• Latinas in Tech Shares inspiring stories, career paths, and innovations from Latinas working in AI, data science, and emerging tech.
• Tech By Choice A nonprofit-led digest uplifting underrepresented professionals with accessible resources and AI education pathways.
• Stratechery by Ben Thompson Widely read among tech leaders, this newsletter explains how AI and emerging tech reshape business models and power dynamics.
• Exponential View by Azeem Azhar Deep analysis of AI’s macro impacts on policy, economics, and organizational transformation—ideal for systems thinkers.

Influential Voices to Follow on LinkedIn

• Allie K. Miller Former Global Head of ML at AWS. Offers tactical, clear-eyed insights for applying AI in real business environments.
• Azeem Azhar Tech analyst and author focused on exponential technologies and their implications for business and society.
• Rumman Chowdhury Renowned expert in responsible AI, algorithmic auditing, and governance frameworks.
• Mia Shah-Dand Advocate for inclusive AI leadership and equitable innovation in tech development.
• Alexandr Wang Founder and CEO of Scale AI. Focused on building the data infrastructure behind enterprise AI deployment.
• Karine Perset Head of the OECD’s AI policy initiative. Focuses on transparent, international AI governance strategies.
• Cliff Worley Senior Director at Kapor Capital. Shares insights at the intersection of AI innovation, equity, and access.
• John Pasmore AI strategist and founder focused on solving cultural and racial bias in AI systems. Advocates for inclusive tech development.
• Chris Gee Thought leader exploring how AI intersects with marketing, entrepreneurship, and culture, making AI actionable for creatives and strategists alike.

The leaders who make the greatest impact are not those who wait for certainty. They are the ones who recognize the current, step into it, and ride the lightning.