Business Growth Strategy

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence presents both immense opportunities and significant challenges for Australian businesses. While many executives acknowledge AI's disruptive potential and are investing in pilot projects, a notable gap exists between initial adoption and truly transformative outcomes. A recent study revealed that three out of five Australian organizations use AI as an assistive tool, yet only one in five has seen it fundamentally change their operations. This panel discussion at GROW ANZ 2026 brought together leading executives to dissect this 'AI purgatory' and chart a course for genuine agentic shift.

The rapid acceleration of AI adoption across Australia and New Zealand presents a dual challenge for businesses: how to innovate at speed while maintaining — and even building — customer confidence. This tension, often termed the "trust gap," is a critical barrier to scaling intelligent automation responsibly. Leaders must navigate a landscape of evolving regulations, data privacy concerns, and the inherent complexities of AI to ensure that technological advancement serves, rather than erodes, the foundational trust with their customers.

In a counter-intuitive move that sent shivers down the spines of CFOs, Heidi, an AI product for healthcare, made its core offering entirely free. Faced with the challenge of reaching overworked doctors who avoid sales calls and cold outreach, and with no marketing budget, the company embraced a radical product-led growth strategy that transformed its business model overnight.