5 Fundamentals of AI Adoption

On a recent episode of Lightning Leadership, host Teresa Conroy-Roth sat down with Calvin Hendryx-Parker, CTO of Six Feet Up, to talk “Navigating AI Fundamentals.” From crafting better prompts to protecting your data and knowing when (and when not) to invest, this episode offers a clear, practical guide to getting AI right from the start.

5 Fundamentals of AI Adoption:

1. AI Isn’t Replacing Us — It’s Amplifying Us

Think of today’s AI tools as ultra-competent interns: fast, informed, and tireless, but still in need of direction. Tools like Claude and ChatGPT shine brightest when paired with human insight. The future is human + AI, not human vs. AI.

2. Context Is Everything

AI is only as good as the input you give it. Calvin shared a fun example of using AI to win a wine competition by feeding it detailed context. The takeaway? The better your prompt, the better your results — especially in business.

3. Data Is a Sleeping Giant

Most companies sit on years of unstructured data that feels like a liability. But with strategies like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), that data becomes a foundation for smarter AI tools and better decisions. Clean data isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential.

4. Privacy and Governance Still Matter

Free tools are convenient, but come with risk. For those dealing with sensitive data, Calvin recommends open-source models like Llama or Mistral AI, deployed securely in-house or in private clouds.

5. When to Wait, When to Invest

Not every use case is urgent. If you’re automating a non-critical back office process, it may pay to wait as tools mature. But if you’re building core IP or a customer-facing products — move now. Early adoption brings compounding returns.

If your AI initiative has the potential to drive value, create intellectual property, or give you a market edge, don’t wait. The best time to get started is now. Explore Six Feet Up’s AI capabilities to get started.