The Big Lie Behind AI Hype: Tom Goodwin on the Future of Business

What if the biggest threat to progress isn’t technology?

Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Tom Goodwin, Co-Founder of All We Have Is Now.

Tom Goodwin is a four-time LinkedIn “#1 Voice in Marketing.” He is also the Co-Founder of, All We Have Is Now, a digital transformation consultancy helping businesses harness emerging technologies. A sought-after speaker, writer, and advisor, Tom also hosts The Edge, a tech-focused TV series, and My Wildest Prediction, a podcast with Euronews. In 2021 Tom published the second edition of his book “Digital Darwinism” with Kogan Page, in 2023 Tom launched a comprehensive online Digital Transformation course, and has now spoken in over 100 cities in 50 countries around the world.

Tom sits down with Geoff to share his perspective on the evolving digital landscape and how to cut through the noise especially around AI, digital transformation, and innovation — to focus on what truly matters for organizations today. He argues that in a time of rapid technological change, the smartest move may be to slow down, ignore the hype, and prioritize people, processes, and a long-term strategic vision. Tom urges leaders to think critically, stay grounded in fundamentals, and embrace thoughtful, human-centered progress over flashy solutions.

In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Why tech hype needs a reality check
02:06 What actually matters in 2025
03:04 Business first, not tech first
04:11 Why not every company needs to chase every trend
05:16 The problem with constant agility
07:13 Why disruption isn’t always real
10:18 Are we avoiding hard truths about our business models?
12:12 Who wins: legacy companies or startups?
15:28 Will AI-native companies dominate?
17:09 Why real change still takes time
19:07 Hype vs. reality in AI adoption
22:47 Technology adoption is slower than you think
24:02 Advice to leaders on using AI strategically
26:44 Why short-term thinking is overrated
29:05 Planning for what really matters
31:00 A better approach to technology prioritization
33:18 Why digital transformation usually fails
34:49 The Heathrow metaphor: patchwork vs. reinvention
39:06 The promise of AI for real reinvention
42:20 Are IT leaders being left behind?
44:00 Why the CTO must be more strategic
47:03 What it takes to lead digital transformation
48:22 Why we need more ambitious use of existing tech
50:01 Tom’s book: Digital Darwinism
51:40 What happens when AI becomes invisible tech
53:13 We need clearer conversations around AI


Connect with Tom:
Website: www.tomgoodwin.co/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomfgoodwin/
X: x.com/tomfgoodwin


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