Anticipatory AI: Making decisions earlier, creating impact sooner – New Expert Article

This exact question is at the heart of our latest expert article, “Scissors, Rock, AI – The Industrialization of Foresight,” (available in German only) published in the Handelsblatt special supplement “Entrepreneurial Spirit – Innovation & Growth.” The author team—our project management experts Christoph Gudernatsch, Kai Wilhelm, and Philipp Larseille—puts a critical shift in perspective center stage, one that is becoming decisive for many organizations.

Companies are currently investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), yet the benefits often remain limited to efficiency gains and improved analytics. In the process, the true strategic core is frequently overlooked. AI is capable not only of streamlining processes, but of shifting the timing of decisions themselves. Those who recognize earlier can act earlier—and that is where competitive advantage is created. The foundation lies in systems that detect patterns at an early stage, derive concrete recommendations for action, and enable timely actions and adjustments.

But this is exactly where the core challenge becomes apparent. Many organizations are analytically strong, yet not operationally faster. Insights are available, but consequences follow too late—or not at all.

The bottleneck is increasingly no longer the technology, but organizational structures: unclear decision rights, complex coordination processes, and a lack of prioritization prevent early signals from turning into early action. In this context, anticipatory AI acts like a systemic stress test, exposing issues that apply just as much to other strategic initiatives.

The expert article makes it clear that the real lever lies in implementation. Anticipatory AI delivers value only where organizations consistently adapt their decision logic, processes, and responsibilities.

What is required is an interplay of clear prioritization, reduced coordination loops, and leadership that enables decision-making even under uncertainty. Only when these conditions are in place does insight translate into real impact.