Vendors might find comfortable leaders blocking AI experimentation, and the objections may not show up actively but more silently. I've been interviewing SaaS CEOs who are exploring how to adopt software, some of them have reported to me that counterparts and old colleagues at big companies are discovering a barbell effect inside larger organizations.
What is the "AI Barbell Effect" in corporations?
On one side, you have a group of change agent senior leaders who want to make things happen. Then you have a "middle group" of employees that are just comfortable. Not wanting to change or investigate much. Note they are not truly incentivized to do so either. Then you have rank and file employees that are willing to create their own mandate. Sticking their own neck out, creating experiments, using the latest tools, sharing knowledge. This group is often politically inexperienced and unfamiliar with selling change in the wider organization.
Find out:
What is the biggest challenge to widespread AI adoption?
How can companies overcome resistance to AI adoption?
What does this mean for software providers selling AI tools?
I have four takeaways from Target's earnings call:
What is the status of the Target Plus Marketplace?
1. Target Plus Marketplace remains shackled.
One of the only parts of the business with double-digit comps, as well as the key to unlocking more advertising growth, is still an invite-only affair. 6 years on, that is simply not good enough.
AI Adoption: From Skepticism to Evangelism - Lessons from a Tech CTO
Welcome to the first episode of Oh, Shift!: Agentic Software Leader Series, where we cut through the AI hype with real talk from software leaders. This series is for founders and operators building internal AI momentum—no silver bullets, just substance.
In this episode, host Rick Watson talks with John Shao, Co-founder and CTO of Pipe17. John shares how he went from early AI adopter to company-wide AI evangelist, navigating mixed employee reactions and driving adoption through real-world use cases and a culture of curiosity.
He offers practical tips—like using AI to write and verify prompts—and envisions new roles like "AI analysts" to bridge tech and business.
John Shao, CTO of Pipe17, shares how to validate AI outputs efficiently—by asking if each bullet point truly fits its content, instead of reviewing everything manually.
Watch the full conversation on Oh Shift! Where AI Meets SaaS (Episode: AI Adoption: From Skepticism to Evangelism)
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