In a compelling address at the University of Bologna, Reid Hoffman challenges a common misconception about AI adoption: that waiting for perfect solutions is the safest path forward. Instead, the LinkedIn co-founder and venture capitalist argues that engaging with AI now is crucial for business success—and that managing risk comes through active engagement, not cautious observation.
Drawing from history, Hoffman offers an illuminating parallel: Imagine if early automobile pioneers had waited to solve every potential traffic problem before developing cars. “The answer is not to slow down technology, but to accelerate it,” he emphasizes. “Technology is a tool. And the faster we have it in our hands, the better we can solve the problems we have—and the problems it might create.”
This approach is already yielding remarkable results across industries. Companies are using AI to develop new metal-glass hybrids 200 times faster than traditional methods, revolutionizing the production of batteries, alloys, and sensors. In healthcare, AI is helping catch previously missed cancer diagnoses while dramatically reducing screening costs. Even in fields like linguistics, AI is helping decode lost languages and animal communication, opening entirely new research frontiers.
Hoffman’s message to business owners is clear: start engaging with AI now, even if in small ways. “At a minimum, we just need to start using AI, if we haven’t. And continue growing with it, if we have,” he advises. This technology gives businesses more abilities and time—both invaluable assets in today’s competitive landscape.
The key is understanding that AI, like any technology, is fundamentally human. It’s a tool we shape, and in turn, it shapes us. Hoffman suggests viewing AI as “cognitive mobile scaffolding,” enabling us to build previously impossible “cathedrals of the mind.” He argues that AI should be seen not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as an amplifier of it—a tool that enhances rather than diminishes human capability.
Rather than getting caught up in extreme visions of utopia or apocalypse, Hoffman encourages business leaders to focus on the practical development and application of AI tools. Like the Renaissance innovators who developed new tools to create unprecedented works of beauty and utility, today’s business leaders have the opportunity to shape AI in ways that benefit humanity while driving business success.
In his complete address, which you can watch below, Hoffman expands on how businesses can practically approach AI adoption while preserving a human-centered perspective.
Want to explore more about innovation and business growth? For insights on how free market principles enable innovation and entrepreneurship, subscribe here.
