The danger of overthinking AI

For many Australian organisations, AI adoption has stalled—not for lack of interest, but due to inflated expectations of what’s required to begin.

Dawid Naude, founder of Pathfindr and keynote speaker at Digital Edge, says too many digital leaders are over-engineering AI programs before delivering any value.

“They’re treating AI like any other tech initiative—but it’s not. It lies. It’s unpredictable. It’s new. But it’s also incredibly powerful straight out of the box,” he explained.

Rather than waiting for a perfect data environment or building in-house solutions from scratch, Naude says the better move is to “start using tools like GPT or Claude, even just off-the-shelf, securely, and as thought partners.”

The biggest mistake? Delaying action to build internal tools that employees bypass anyway—risking unapproved use of public AI models.

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Build momentum not noise

Naude’s work with organisations like Woolworths, VicGov, and Honey Insurance follows a rapid-build model he calls “accelerated pragmatism.”

Where others might spend four months planning, Pathfindr delivers MVPs in six weeks: “While everyone else is still making slide decks, we’re building working solutions.”

He believes most transformation effort is wasted in process theatre—lengthy meetings, inflated scope, unnecessary layers. Instead, Pathfindr assembles a lean strike team and gets to work.

The result? Faster outcomes, lower costs, and internal teams learning by doing—so they aren’t dependent on external vendors long-term.

Empower your champions and give them cover

For Naude, the key to success isn’t centralisation. It’s choosing two internal trailblazers, giving them enterprise-grade tools, and letting them play by different rules.

“These champions should have permission to break things—in a controlled way. They’re your experimentation engine.”

Without that flexibility, he warns, AI projects get bogged down in red tape before they ever begin.

Don’t wait to feel ready

At Data and AI Edge, ADAPT shared that only 6% of Aussie organisations feel ready to train staff in AI. But Naude says waiting for readiness is a trap.

Honey Insurance’s launch of a voice-enabled AI agent worked precisely because it moved fast. The project was externally facing, built in months, and returned immediate ROI—defying most industry norms.

“It worked because the COO led the charge, not just IT. It was a whole-business commitment to ship something imperfect but valuable,” said Naude.

He encourages leaders to define the time window first, then build whatever’s possible within that frame—rather than letting scope dictate timelines.

Leading with neurodiversity and novelty

Naude’s own leadership style is shaped by his experience living with ADHD.

“It’s easier for me to keynote for 100 people than file an expense report,” he shared. “But high-pressure, high-impact work activates my focus—and that’s where I thrive.”

To manage the challenges, he builds his environment around support, clear deadlines, and physical activity. “Sleep, exercise, and accountability—those are non-negotiables.”

He also believes leaders must create space for neurodiverse thinkers: “We’re great pattern-finders and explorers. But we need the right structures to thrive.”

Key takeaways

  • Digital leaders must stop overengineering AI initiatives and start using tools like GPT or Claude securely and immediately
  • Most AI transformation effort is wasted—lean strike teams can deliver 90% of value faster and cheaper
  • Assign 1–2 internal champions to lead AI adoption under special rules, supported by CDOs
  • Don’t aim for readiness—set a tight time frame and deliver what’s possible within it
  • Neurodiverse leadership styles can be a strength in high-pressure, innovation-focused environments

 

Hear more from Dawid Naude and other expert speakers at Digital Edge, 24 June at the Fullerton, Sydney

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Contributors
Dawid Naude Founder & CEO at Pathfindr
Dawid Naude is a trailblazer in business, disruption, and innovation, shaping the future by translating AI’s potential into real world impact. Committed... More

Dawid Naude is a trailblazer in business, disruption, and innovation, shaping the future by translating AI’s potential into real world impact. Committed to making AI exciting, accessible, and impossible to ignore, he helps organisations to make every employee more productive, reimagine what’s possible, and achieve breakthrough innovation.

With a dynamic CV spanning consulting and leadership roles across digital, technology and innovation, Dawid is the proud Founder & CEO of Pathfindr. Named one of AFR BOSS’ Most Innovative Companies in its founding year, Pathfindr’s is now the fastest growing AI Accelerator in Australia.

An advisor to Government and industry bodies across APAC, Dawid is one of the region’s foremost AI innovators, educators, and implementers. With an infectious energy and a gift for making the complex feel simple, his keynotes have built a reputation for exciting audiences into action.

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