As I made a career pivot to teaching after two decades of consulting, I was introduced to artificial intelligence (AI) through OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022. The technology has the potential to reshape my new industry, old one, and many others.
Over the past three years, I’ve been experimenting with AI through a course I created called “AI and Consultative Decision Making” and researching historical disruptions such as gunpowder and Pampers disposable diapers. One theme that emerged is that disruption is predictably unpredictable. There are broad patterns, but complex systems and humans introduce unexpected twists.
Five historical lessons offer insights into how AI can drive epic disruptive change:
1. Disruption often starts in unexpected places. Walter Bradeen’s development of the transistor in the 1940s was initially intended for replacing vacuum tubes, not creating a new technology.
2. The secret sauce of disruption is a unique business model. Mac and Dick McDonald’s Speedee Service System simplified food production, allowing them to create value through a standardized system.
3. Disruption is always messy in the middle. Henry Ford’s assembly line transformed the automotive industry, but also led to chaos and carnage as cities adapted to cars.
4. There’s often a twist in the story. Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press was initially seen as a solution to the Catholic Church’s problems, but it ultimately spread ideas that attacked the Church.
5. It’s all about the people. DBS Bank’s digital transformation relied on behavioral interventions and cultural change rather than just technology.
These lessons offer guidance for navigating AI-driven disruption. By understanding history, we can make sense of the complicated present and identify opportunities for innovation.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/5-predictions-ai-disruption-dartmoth-business-professor-chatgpt