We run a small company. From consulting to software dev (well, mostly both things happen: consult, then develop). While software dev is impacted by AI coding, there is more going on on our client's side that is also impacted by AI = everyone wants AI solutions. If a client has a problem where they need to start at point A and end up at point B, and we see that the most efficient approach is some conventional integration, middleware, etc., proposing that doesn't excite the client. But if someone proposed the MCP+AI model for such a case, clients would be more willing to pay for it (even if it's less efficient for the specific use case).

As founders were are debating now, that while we can solve 99% of our clients needs with pre-ai tools and technologies, efficiently and on budget - the world and the market is moving so heavily into "AI everything", that to stay competetive we got to start talking AI, branding AI into our tools and services, really embrace it so we "look and smell" AI.

It's a big step for us as we have always gone for the most efficient and logical solution(s) and rarely used hype as a sales angle. But as most of our clients nowadays have internal KPIs on "how much AI is used/implemented," we feel we have to change.

What are your experiences? Do you think AI as knowledge and experience is going to be as critical as just basic computer skills? Can someone still run a digital non-AI business?