Amy Wilkinson’s Post

My latest in The Wall Street Journal: Some companies are moving away from the idea that stand-alone, startup-style labs are the best way to drive innovation. The re-evaluation comes as big businesses feel the pressure to harness cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence for new discoveries. The best ideas come from within the business, these companies say, rather than from colleagues in detached groups who then have to get buy-in from the company. Walmart in January announced plans to close Store No. 8, an idea-incubation arm that had some associates based in California’s Silicon Valley. The stand-alone lab was no longer needed, the Arkansas-based retailer said, because it had developed a new method that embedded innovation deeper across the company, giving more employees the opportunity to contribute. “We’re taking a different approach,” said Anshu Bhardwaj, chief operating officer of Walmart’s technology unit. “So associates are innovating while they’re driving the business.” Some tech leaders say it is a mistake to position innovation as something separate from the business itself, and that doing so can often lead to simply pursuing technology for technology’s sake. Companies risk falling into that pattern with AI, by focusing on where they can apply the technology rather than the business problems it could potentially solve, they said. Read the full unlocked story here for POVs from: CVS Health, Ford Motor Company, Mastercard's Ed McLaughlin, EY's Jeff Wong, BNP Paribas' Matthieu Soulé and Punks & Pinstripes' Greg Larkin. #tech #innovation #ai #artificialintelligence

Are #innovation labs dying? Thanks to Isabelle Bousquette for including my answer in this article.

Interesting trend among many notable companies - to dissolve their free-standing innovation teams/hubs and integrate their charter and strategy into the core business. "The re-evaluation comes as big businesses feel the pressure to harness cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence for new discoveries. The best ideas come from within the business, these companies say, rather than from colleagues in detached groups who then have to get buy-in from the company." Pros and cons for sure and doing this isn't right for all businesses, but such a move requires careful planning and review of existing projects/workload in the teams now picking up this "new" responsibility. If they're already swamped (Most always are, and honestly, I never worked with anyone in my past with a partial workload), and they struggle to move the needle in a reasonable amount of time with their current initiatives, this move only further complicates. Something has to give. On the other hand, the tech tail isn't wagging the dog (see article). It'll be interesting to see in those companies who've made the move, how this impacts their project and innovation delivery and life cycle. #retailleadership #retailtechnology #ai #ml #innovation #retail The Wall Street Journal Thank you, Isabelle Bousquette https://lnkd.in/gyShPEWQ

At Brooks Stevens, we view AI as just another tool in our toolbox. It doesn't replace our brainstorming; it only fuels our creativity in the early stages of development! Dive into this exciting case study to see how a design team—one human and several AIs—demonstrates how the future of product innovation can work: https://zurl.co/4u4x

Experimentation has become much clearer and more accessible. With better defined roles, steps, and tools, companies are beginning to democratize the process throughout the organization. Let the learnings flow! Great article by Sven Schmit, Ramesh Johari, David Holtz, Martin Tingley, Iavor Bojinov #Experimentation #Innovation"

Picture this: building and scaling cutting-edge solutions at breakneck speed—no bloated tech teams, no red tape. This is the new era of innovation. Low/no-code platforms fused with AI aren’t just tools—they’re game-changers. They’re enabling brands to outmaneuver the competition, turn ideas into reality faster than ever, and reshape entire industries. This isn’t the future; it’s happening now. Brands that don’t adapt will be left in the dust. Ready to join the revolution? Let’s talk about how this powerful combo can catapult your brand to new heights. 💡

According to McKinsey, it’s estimated that only 6% of CEOs are satisfied with their organizations’ ability to innovate. At InnovationForce, we think it’s time for a wake-up call. Instead of isolated and siloed labs where only the few innovate, we believe EVERYONE INNOVATES. So, it was great to see this WSJ article validate our view that it’s time to foster cultures where everyone has a voice in driving change. It’s time to democratize innovation! InnovationForce is the first and only SaaS platform to democratize innovation by scaling automated workflows across entire workforces. Built on best practices from world renown innovation expert and InnovationForce co-founder Dr. Linda Hill, our platform helps organizations build cultures of innovation that can be measured. Learn more by scheduling a demo today! #Innovation #AI #InnovateFaster Kim Getgen, Tim Clark, Sofie Fyrand, Linda Hill, Cheryl Whaley, Taran Swan, Husain Al-Badry, Peter Sondergaard, Oscar A. Montes Mayorga, Kim Crespin, Cheryl Smith, Larry Orrel, Rob Rollingson, James Andrus, Michael Ku

🌐 Welcome to the Future of Innovation 🚀 At Disruptive Concepts, we believe that the best ideas don’t just challenge the status quo—they redefine it. In a world that's evolving at lightning speed, businesses must innovate or risk being left behind. Our mission? To ignite your potential with groundbreaking strategies that transform your vision into reality. 🔍 What We Do: We specialize in leveraging disruptive technologies and unconventional strategies to drive exponential growth. From AI and machine learning to cutting-edge product development, our approach is anything but ordinary. 💡 Why It Matters: Innovation isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. The companies that survive and thrive are those willing to embrace change and push the boundaries of what's possible. We're here to make sure you're one of them. 📈 Our Impact: We've helped startups become market leaders, guided established businesses through digital transformations, and supported companies in unlocking new revenue streams. Our approach isn't just about thinking outside the box—it's about tearing the box down and rebuilding it better. 🚀 Ready to Disrupt? Join us on our journey to shape the future of business. Whether you're looking to innovate, scale, or redefine your industry, Disruptive Concepts is your partner in success. 🔗 Visit us at disruptive-concepts.com to learn more about how we can help you lead the charge in innovation. #Innovation #Disruption #TechTransformation #FutureOfBusiness #AI #MachineLearning #BusinessGrowth If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page.

I'm very excited to share that Forbes just featured me in their latest article! 🎉 Check out the piece on "20 Non-Tech Companies Making Waves with Innovative Tech Initiatives" to see how AI and Data are making a significant difference for businesses that aren't in this industry. 👨🏼💻 We all at DNAMIC admire these great moves by smart companies and encourage others to follow. #DNAMICAI #Data #Forbes #Nike

In higher ed, we often innovate through the efforts of a select few who are driven to take risks and do things differently. When that innovation shows impact and needs to be scaled, we often ask the same small group to take it to enterprise. But innovation and enterprise are two radically different things that require different approaches — and often different teams. Relying on your innovators alone to grow to enterprise is a recipe for failure. (Inspired by questions that Joseph T. Yun, Ph.D. asked at this week’s Notre Dame AI Forum.)