Segment:- Accept Disruption or Get Out of the Game: If You're Not Researching AI, You're Already Behind.

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast – Episode Summary

Podcast: Konnected Minds Podcast
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Episode: Accept Disruption or Get Out of the Game: If You're Not Researching AI, You're Already Behind
Date: December 7, 2025

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Main Theme

This episode explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting industries, businesses, and everyday life, emphasizing the critical need to accept and adapt to these changes. Derrick Abaitey and his guest discuss the dangers of resisting technological shifts, the inevitability of industry transformation, and what companies and individuals must do to remain relevant and prosper.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Disruption Is Inevitable: Accept or Be Left Behind

• Disruption Has Always Been Part of Progress

  • Derrick draws parallels between today’s AI revolution and past technological leaps like radio, television, and elevators.
  • Quote:

    “Systems accept disruption or get out of the game. It’s as simple as that.” — Derrick [00:17]

  • Resisting progress leads to obsolescence (e.g., horses versus cars, antique TV sets).

• Societal Adaptation to Change

  • Each generation has its own “defining technology” that initially sparks fear and resistance but later becomes commonplace.
  • Quote:

    “Every generation has freaked out on the defining technology of their time until it's nothing.” — Derrick [03:41]

2. AI in Everyday Life — Scope & Impact

• Penetration of Digital and AI Systems
  • From business flyers to lifestyle retreats, digital systems are everywhere.
  • Offline experiences have become a sought-after luxury in the highly connected digital age.
  • Quote:

    “Our world is becoming so digitally charged… soon, and very soon, people would pay to become naturral again. And it’s happening.” — Derrick [02:04]

• AI as an Invisible Assistant
  • AI can automate research, interviewing, editing — even function as a live transcription and summarization tool in places like churches and businesses.

3. Business Transformation & AI Strategy

• Necessity of In-House AI Research
  • All organizations, regardless of sector, must cultivate in-house AI research and development.
  • Quote:

    “Every company needs to have an inside house R&D department plugged in to AI research and development… every single company. I’m talking churches, I’m talking property companies, I’m talking real estate, I’m talking agriculture. I’m talking government.” — Derrick [06:15-06:31]

• New Models of Efficiency
  • Companies must be willing to “cannibalize their core” and disrupt themselves before someone else does.
  • Transitioning from physical infrastructure (antenna, TV) to digital-first models (streaming, apps).
  • Quote:

    “Cannibalize yourself, cannibalize your core… take the very heart of the business and move it into a more efficient system.” — Derrick [10:06]

4. Wealth Creation in the Age of AI

• Direct Audience Access & Monetization
  • AI and digital platforms have removed gatekeepers, allowing direct interaction between creators and audiences.
  • Quote:

    “You couldn’t build an audience without the middlemen of radio and TV and go directly from producer to audience… That is disrupted now.” — Derrick [04:33]

• AI as a Leveler
  • Efficient tools and better systems mean more opportunities for wealth creation for those who adapt.

5. Practical Advice for AI Beginners

• Start with Research
  • Knowledge is the new gold—start by researching how AI is affecting your specific industry.
  • Companies must avoid equating AI only with obvious tools like ChatGPT; the field is much broader.
  • Quote:

    “Where you start from is research… knowledge asymmetry is the gold mine right now.” — Derrick [08:39]

• Embrace Trend Awareness
  • Stay informed, even if you are currently unfamiliar or resistant.
  • “Stop paying attention to the data, stop paying attention to the trends. And… eventually you would have to have some kind of a connection with AI. Start researching.” — Derrick [09:38]

6. Societal, Ethical & Parenting Dimensions

• Unintended Risks
  • New dangers, such as misuse by youths, appear alongside opportunities (e.g., youth asking AI harmful questions).
• Legal & Regulatory Gaps
  • Laws and regulations, still based on physical world assumptions, lag far behind technological realities (e.g., self-driving car liabilities).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On resisting change:

  “You can walk up today and say, you know, to hell with them. I’m not going to drive cars anymore. Give me a horse… When you fight the tools, that becomes the standard order of the day. You will get out of business.” — Derrick [00:36-01:10]

• On offline as luxury:

  “I said about four years ago the new luxury would be offline… people are paying for that. That’s the new luxury.” — Derrick [02:03]

• On redefining business models:

  “Because when people want it, they will not say, because we love you, because you’ve been here for a very long time, we’re just going to roll with you. That’s not going to be the case.” — Derrick [10:49]

• On legal challenges of AI:

  “If a self driving Tesla car gets in an accident, who’s to be blamed? The guy in the passenger seat? The software running Tesla or Tesla itself?” — Derrick [06:46]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:12 | Accepting disruption; analogy with technology and industries | | 01:16 | Evolution and necessity to adapt new tools & standards | | 03:41 | Generational fear of new technologies; historical perspective | | 04:33 | Wealth opportunities, breaking the ‘middleman’ barrier | | 06:07 | Every company needs AI-focused research and development | | 08:39 | How to get started with AI – focus on research and industry fit | | 10:06 | Necessity to “cannibalize your core” and self-disrupt | | 11:26 | The next phase: relentless transition towards digital efficiency |

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Summary in the Original Tone

Derrick Abaitey delivers a clear call to action: refuse to engage with technological disruption, especially AI, at your own peril. He underscores the repeating pattern of technological anxiety, charges companies and individuals alike to invest in research and adaptability, and paints a compelling picture of both the dangers and extraordinary opportunities facing anyone bold enough to embrace change.

Bottom line:

• Disruption is here and accelerating.
• Resisting it is a path to irrelevance.
• Success depends on proactive research and internal innovation, not nostalgia or inertia.

This episode is essential listening for business leaders, professionals, and anyone interested in how AI and digital disruption will reshape Africa—and the world—in the coming years.

Transcript

[A]

Is it less a picture of me because it was done by a better, more efficient system? No, that's me. Nobody can tell the difference. I have these images on a flyer that is out there and you can't even tell the difference.

[B]

So how do we become more accepting of this whole AI Sir?

[A]

Systems accept disruption or get out of the game. It's as simple as that. I gave this example the other day when we're having our conversation when Ghana came out and said, hey guys, you know the tv, very soon we're not going to be using it anymore. Throw it out, up. Somebody was sitting there. You can't tell me, it's my house.

[B]

I know my.

[A]

Right. Okay, no problem. What will happen is transmission systems will not connect to your tv. So you have an empty TV box. You can walk up today and say, you know, to hell with them. I'm not going to drive cars anymore. Give me a horse. Yes, sir. Where will you park your horse when you come to my business? So what's going to happen is when you fight the tools, that becomes the standard order of the day. You will get out of business. The this is how disruption always happens. You either adjust and reorient and grow or better systems will overtake you. Study all systems of disruption in every single industry.

[B]

So essentially, if I was still using Nokia 33. 10.

[A]

Yes, sir.

[B]

I wouldn't be able to go on WhatsApp.

[A]

It's very simple. Send me an email. Let me see.

[B]

Sir.

[A]

So are you going to go up and grab an iPhone or an Android or Samsung or. Or you're going to say no. You know, this has always worked. It works. Don't I get calls? No problem. Until you need to get on a call with an investor in the UK and he needs to see you on video.

[B]

So that actually marries with my concept of moving out from circle to circle.

[A]

Yes, sir.

[B]

And evolving as a means.

[A]

Yes, sir.

[B]

Accepting change.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Very interesting. Right? Because if that's what the world is forcing us to accept.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

It can cut across every aspect of our lives.

[A]

Every single aspect of our lives. I said about four years ago the new luxury would be offline.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

Until about a year ago, places started popping up in Europe where people go to pay so that their phones are taken from them, their gadgets are taken from them, and they are reintegrated into nature. Spoke about it four, five years ago. Our world is becoming so digitally charged. We are so interconnected with digital systems that soon, and very soon, people would pay to become nature ral again. And it's Happening. Go to libraries where no phones are accepted. Go for retreat centers where. And they get integration. They go back. They want their feet to touch the ground. They want to be farmed. People are paying for that. That's the new luxury. All of a sudden, there's a global conversation about going back to sustenance, farming for families. Let's get our own land, let's grow our own food. Let's raise our kids in that world. Because it's craz with what tech is doing. It cuts across every facet. Have we created a. Humans by our very nature are ever evolving. Like you said, have we created a problem? Yes and no. Yes. If the pros, the cons outweigh the pros. Know if the pros outweigh the cons. Now, you and I can think through this very, very well. The way you and I are freaking out about AI, that's the same way our forefathers freaked out about radio. In fact, that's the same way they freaked out about the elevator. Do you know there used to be an elevator operator? It was a job. Somebody highly trained, highly qualified, used to do the work in suits. I have a picture of this, of operating the elevator. Same thing when they freaked out about radio. Think about the magic of the fact that a human body can be boxed in a screen. They screamed about TV the same way. I am young enough to remember the day that I had a sermon in the church of Pentecost Church where the man of God said, Facebook is Antichrist, is the Antichrist. Every generation has freaked out on the defining technology of their time until it's nothing. So have we created a problem, yes or no? This is how it's always been. We feel like it's different. It's not. This is how it has always been. So at the end of the day, the measure of the conversation should be how much good is it doing for us versus how much bad or evil is it doing for us? Then we can make it for the younger generation.

[B]

The question actually is, is it going to make us more richer?

[A]

For me, the answer is hell yes. Okay, sir, you do understand that this was not possible 10 years ago. Like. Like you couldn't build an audience without the middlemen of radio and TV and go directly from producer to audience. That was impossible. There was always a middle structure. You either needed to take this show to a TV station, bring in a third party sponsor who was willing to pay for your airtime on the TV station, and hopefully if the show was good enough and you had multiple sponsors, then you can make some money out of it. Yeah. That is disrupted now when I have AI systems that can act like my research assistant that helps me research the people I'm about to interview gives me relevant question, watch all their videos in one minute. For you to interview me here. There's an AI agent that could have done all of that work to you. I've watched every video of him, listened to every interview, read every single post that he's ever made on social media since 2011 or whenever he came online. Here's everything I found. Here are the things that are a bit controversial. Here are the scandals he's been involved in. Here is how you talk to a person like this. We don't see how that comes in when we're done. And the AI can help us in editing. Even after we're humans and we're not here. We can talk about the unemployment and all of that. That's another conversation.

[B]

So a time ago we were speaking and we said that every company needs to have a social media team. Are we saying that every company needs to have an AI team now?

[A]

Every company needs to, needs to have an inside house R&D department plugged in to AI research and development on the poles of the matter working eyes open to eyes closed. I'm exaggerating, but having their fingers on the poles in AI, every single company. I'm talking churches, I'm talking property companies, I'm talking real estate, I'm talking agriculture. I'm talking government. I'm talking government. I'm talking government. We have systems that are built for a physical world. We can't even deal with cyberbullying. Here's a question. If a self driving Tesla car gets in an accident, who's to be blamed? The guy in the passenger seat? The software running Tesla or Tesla itself?

[B]

Wow, I never thought about that.

[A]

Yes sir. Our constitutions globally were built for a physical world where everything is tangible. We're going into crazy areas. So yes, every single moving part of society, parenting needs to think about AI. Do you know what kids are doing with it now? Kids are committing suicide over conversations with ChatGPT. Kids are asking how do I bomb my classroom? Over conversations with AI. Every single moving part of our society needs to think about it. I have a young man in the church that by God's grace, I pastor, I didn't even pay attention. One of the services I realized there was a laptop plugged in. He had cables, you know, connectors, like what's going on? Because I know that all of the systems run from the main booth at the back. I do then pay attention for about 30 seconds and I realize on the spot as I'm speaking, there's an AI system transcribing me live. So by the time I'm done teaching, the entire teaching is transcribed and he can give me a summary with highlights, punchlines, everything ready to go. Every company. You need a research and you need, you need your AI people.

[B]

Let me stop you here for a minute. We are on a journey of changing the minds and the lives of people. So if you haven't subscribed and become part of the family, please hit the subscribe button and turn on the notification. Thank you. Now, let's carry on with the conversation. I have a certain type of audience.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And you know, higher age bracket.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

They have businesses across Africa and now, you know, one of them is thinking to themselves, right. All these things you are saying is fantastic, but I have no clue what you're saying.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Where do I start from?

[A]

Where you start from is research. This is the reason why I said knowledge asymmetry is the gold mine right now. Because what it means is that that person can call me and say, hey futurist, here's my business. Can you do a diagnosis of my business and my industry? Look at all of the AI tools, look at all of the development happening on the fringes of my industry. Come into my business and set up a system that can make our things efficient. Also very important if you can help my business to look at adjacent developments that can potentially disrupt our current business system. So if they're not going to hire me, this is what they can do. Get a research and development department. Let them start researching every moving part of AI systems that apply to your industry. It is with that data that you can now make decisions on what to plug in and what not to plug in. The problem is when we hear AI, we think chatgpt.

[B]

Right?

[A]

This is the problem. You are so far removed from the conversation and I'm not blaming you. I'm not sitting here and, you know, show you sharp shoulders. I'm saying you need to stop paying attention to the data, stop paying attention to the trends. And regardless and irrespective of what you say about your business, eventually you would have to have some kind of a connection with AI. Start researching.

[B]

So wait, if. If as a company.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

If you don't disrupt yourself.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Somebody else is going to.

[A]

It's very simple. Cannibalize yourself, cannibalize your core. Take the very heart of the business and move it into a more efficient system. Like I said to you, sir, I don't remember the last time I thought about it. And now that I think about it, wow. I don't remember the last time I thought about a TV poll.

You know, now you will be bfending bamboo. There's something that's what you used to do. Bamboo.

[B]

I mean, my first idea of being able to see anything on the TV screen.

[A]

Yes. I had to have. You need to have a bamboo. And the higher it went, the better. Thank you, sir. And then somebody started making business out of antenna antennas. Now I have a subscription model. Cannibalize your core, take the heart of the business. Because when people want it, they will not say, because we love you, because you've been here for a very long time, we're just going to roll with you. That's not going to be the case.

[B]

So where are you really heading towards? Because now to think about it, yeah. From having this, you know, tall bamboo tree bamboo stick or whatever to having a subscription based service to now even forget the subscription.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You don't need a box.

[A]

No. You don't need a box in. No. No, sir.

[B]

Simple app.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Where are we heading towards?

[A]

We're heading towards as far as computer makes it cheaper, better, more efficient. We will move Connected Minds podcast.