Okay, Marvel fans, let’s talk about Tony Stark. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist… and imperfect. My seven-year-old Marvel-obsessed son (whose room, by the way, is a shrine to all things superhero — thanks, targeted advertising!) and I were watching a video the other day about Iron Man, and it struck me: Tony didn’t build his suit in one perfect go. He started in a cave, with limited resources, and just built something.
It wasn’t perfect. It had issues and was of limited use. Even his second attempt had problems and limitations. Like, say, icing up at high altitudes. But guess what? He wouldn’t have discovered that last problem if he hadn’t started and kept iterating.
Think about it. He got himself out of that tunnel with a prototype, flaws and all. He iterated. He learned. He adapted. And that’s what saved him — and the world — more than once. That high-altitude icing problem? Turns out, his opponent didn’t know about it. Remember that scene? Tony’s soaring through the sky, battling… was it Whiplash? No, no, that wasn’t it… Oh, wait, it was Iron Monger! (Or was it? My son keeps correcting me. It’s probably best I stick to the broader point…) Anyway, whoever it was, that guy didn’t know about the icing issue. Tony’s willingness to embrace imperfection, to just start, gave him the edge. He wasn’t paralyzed by the “what ifs.” He embraced the “what is,” and that’s where the magic happened.
This got me thinking about our clients. I see it all the time: the hesitation, the waiting for someone else to go first, the desire for everything to be just right before taking the plunge. But here’s the truth, straight from the heart (and a little bit from Tony Stark): if you wait for perfect, you’ll be waiting forever.
And while you’re waiting, what are your competitors doing? They’ve already started. They’re learning. They’re getting 100x smarter because they’re in the trenches, iterating, adapting, and improving. They’re not just reading about AI; they’re using it to improve their business.
The world of AI is moving really fast. But it’s not just a trend that’s here today and gone tomorrow (like Beanie Babies or the Ice Bucket Challenge); it’s a fundamental shift in how companies will do business. The pace of innovation is accelerating, and businesses that embrace AI are the ones that will thrive. Waiting on the sidelines is no longer an option. The best approach isn’t waiting for the “perfect” solution (because it doesn’t exist yet). It’s starting small, learning as you go, and iterating. Action breeds clarity. You can’t steer a parked car. You have to get moving to understand the terrain.
This reminds me of something Susan Van Tress from Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors said during our recent fireside chat.
Her advice strongly resonates with what I’m talking about here: “JUST GET STARTED!” Iterate, iterate, iterate, and learn. Even for those eager to begin, ideating use cases can sometimes become a stumbling block.
5 tips for getting started with AI, inspired by Tony Stark
- Start small, think big: Don’t try to boil the ocean. Identify a specific business challenge that AI can address and focus on that. A small, successful project can build momentum and demonstrate the value of AI.
- Embrace iteration: Your first solution won’t be perfect. That’s okay! Embrace the learning process, iterate based on feedback, and continuously improve your AI models and processes. Just like Tony tweaking his suit, you’ll tweak your AI implementation.
- Focus on value: AI should deliver tangible business value. Whether it’s increased efficiency, improved customer experience, or new revenue streams, make sure your AI projects are aligned with your business goals.
- Data is key: AI thrives on data. Ensure you have clean, high-quality data to train your AI models and get accurate insights. As we often see with clients, the data journey itself can be revealing, uncovering hidden issues and opportunities.
- Partner with experts: Navigating the world of AI can be complex. Partnering with experienced AI consultants, like Atrium, can help you accelerate your AI journey and avoid costly mistakes.
We have clients who worry about their data. And that’s valid! But often, the real data issues, the root causes, only reveal themselves during a project. You can’t diagnose the problem until you start exploring. And once you do uncover those issues? You fix them. You learn. And your next iteration is even better. We help you address these data challenges head-on, ensuring your AI initiatives are built on a solid foundation.
Atrium helps you navigate the complexities of AI and build for the future
There are a lot of “AI experts” popping up out there, but Atrium is different. We’re not just consultants; we’re partners in your AI journey. We bring a wealth of experience across diverse industries, including extensive expertise in the financial services sector. Whether it’s banking, credit unions, mortgage lending, commercial lending, wealth management, asset management, fintech — you name it — we have the right people to ensure your success.
Our team of AI specialists stays ahead of the curve, constantly exploring emerging technologies and methodologies like machine learning, natural language processing, and intelligent image interpretation. We understand that getting started with AI can feel overwhelming, and sometimes that feeling lingers even when you think you know what you want to do.
We take a practical, iterative approach, focusing on delivering tangible results from day one. We leverage best practices from our years of experience and insights from our industry leaders to help you navigate the complexities of AI adoption.
We don’t just help you identify the right use cases; we help you refine them, validate them, and translate them into action. We implement solutions that fit your specific needs and ensure you’re getting the most out of your AI investments.
Atrium is the #1 partner for the AI era because we understand that AI is not just about technology; it’s about transformation. But we’re not talking about those large-scale, multi-year transformations that fail 70% of the time. We’re talking about agile transformation. Incremental improvements. Real results, quickly.
We help you transform your business by leveraging the power of AI to achieve your strategic goals. We’re not just selling you software; we’re partnering with you to build a future where AI empowers your business to thrive. We’re here to help you get started, iterate, and achieve real, measurable results. So, stop waiting for perfect. Let’s build something amazing together. Just like Tony Stark, let’s get started.
