February 25, 2026
Hello. This is Hodaka Goto from IntelligentBeast LLC.
I’ve had more opportunities to speak with business owners and CTOs lately. One thing I’ve noticed is that when the topic of AI comes up, reactions tend to split into two camps. One is the anxiety of “We must adopt AI in our company too.” The other is a skeptical view of “What’s really going to change in the end?”
Today, I’d like to share my own on-the-ground experiences. What AI brings is not merely “efficiency.” A “major talent shakeout” that is transforming the very structure of industries has already begun.
Let me be frank. The speed of AI evolution is extraordinary. If things continue as they are, many professionals working in the IT industry will become redundant. There is a particular group that should feel a sense of crisis.
For the last seven or eight years, the IT industry has been a very “lenient” era. Fundraising was easy, and many individuals with low IT aptitude entered the field. There was an aspect where work could be sustained with superficial knowledge, even without understanding the fundamentals of programming.
AI is precisely what will first replace this “work sustained by superficial knowledge.” Tasks like writing code by copying and pasting, or simply combining existing frameworks. Such work will swiftly become the domain of AI.
My Assessment: Those who will be weeded out are the “layer that wasn’t originally meant to be in the IT industry.” On the other hand, true engineers who have been here from the start, and talented individuals who have recently entered the field, will shine even brighter by mastering AI. Their salaries will rise, and their position in business will strengthen. This is the beginning of the era of “survival of the fittest.”
This is a crucial perspective for all business leaders. Recently, we’ve seen a succession of personnel resignations at client companies. In the past, this would have been a major problem halting projects. But now, the situation has completely changed.
At one client, we managed the transition of a departing employee’s duties as follows.
Step 1: Conduct a Business Process Interview
We interview the departing employee or relevant parties to understand the purpose and general flow of the tasks. Detailed procedures are not necessary. It’s enough to understand “what the task aims to achieve.”
Step 2: Automate with AI or Systematize
Based on the interview content, we ask AI to create the workflow or code. Sometimes, we combine this with no-code tools. In an astonishingly short time, deliverables of equal or greater quality are completed.
As long as these two steps are taken, business operations rarely collapse due to a specific person’s departure. AI dramatically reduces the risk of “human dependency.”
Our own work has also changed significantly. For example, we have automated most tasks related to customer acquisition.
AI handles SNS posting schedules, drafting articles, managing website updates, and even creating simple explanatory videos. List creation and research are also automated. This allows human resources to focus on more strategic thinking and creative work.
This is not just a matter of “becoming more convenient.” It’s a major transformation where the core business processes themselves are being redefined.
Here is the most important advice. Given the rapid pace of AI advancement, it’s time to think strategically.
Avoid depending solely on the IT industry. The realm of pure software and digital services alone is becoming overheated with competition, and the shakeout is too intense.
From now on, I believe the key to survival is to have one foot in an industry that deals with “physical things.”
Manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, agriculture. These fields, where AI and robotics converge, are the next massive growth areas. Solving real-world problems with digital expertise. Great value is created at this intersection.
Summary: 3 Key Mindsets to Win in the AI Era
1. Break free from “replaceable work.” Routine, formulaic tasks that AI excels at will be replaced quickly. Where does your company’s true strength lie?
2. Embed the “Interview → Automate” process within your company. Create a culture that reduces human dependency and constantly optimizes the work itself.
3. Seek the intersection of digital and physical. Which real-world problems can your company’s technology solve? This perspective will drive the next phase of growth.
The IT industry is now entering a period of major consolidation. However, for people and companies that truly create value, this is also an unprecedented opportunity. There’s no need to fear. Let’s recognize the situation correctly and begin preparing to adapt.
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