Climbing and AI both share a key challenge: overcoming big obstacles. Whether it’s a 500-metre rock face or the challenge of taking an AI solution from pilot to industrialisation, focus and preparation are essential to reach the top.
The AI challenge: From pilots to scalable solutions
One of the biggest challenges in AI implementation is not developing proofs of concept or successful pilots; that is a first step to take, but the real challenge is moving from those proofs to a scalable, operational solution. Taking AI to an industrial level requires integrating technology, processes and equipment in an environment that is often complex and full of constraints, such as legacy systems or a lack of well-structured data.
As a scaler, I tend to see these problems as mountains. At first glance, they may seem intractable, and the magnitude of the challenge can overwhelm you. But the key to overcoming these large mountains, whether physical or technological, is to break them down into smaller, more manageable parts.
How to climb a mountain (or a big problem)?
Just like in climbing, where a wall is divided into so-called long sections, in AI we must approach problems one step at a time:
- Break the goal down into achievable objectives: In climbing, we go through the route and climb each 30 or 40 metre pitch, making sure we have the resources to complete it. In AI, this means breaking the project down into phases, starting with solving small problems that generate quick value, such as automating tasks or analysing basic data.
- Prepare the right resources: In climbing, you analyse the terrain, check the weather, take the necessary equipment and, if in doubt, consult a guide. In IA, preparing resources involves understanding the context, ensuring data is organised, and having the right tools for each stage of the project.
- Work as a team: In climbing, you don’t get to the top alone. Your partner’s life depends on you, and yours depends on them. Good communication and collaboration are essential to move forward safely. The same applies in AI: integrating multidisciplinary teams, aligning goals and working together ensures that solutions not only reach the top, but are sustainable.
- Gain confidence one step at a time: Just as in rock climbing, where each long completion brings you a little closer to the top and builds your confidence, in AI it is essential to get quick wins that show impact, generate value and help build credibility among stakeholders.
AI as a tool
AI helps us in three key ways:
- Clean house: It allows us to understand processes, identify where bottlenecks are, and break big goals into smaller, more manageable objectives.
- Automate the basics: Delegating repetitive and predictable tasks, such as data analysis or queries, frees us to focus on more complex problems.
- Augmented decision making: Based on real-time and historical data, AI improves our ability to make informed decisions, optimising resources and minimising risk.
Mountains, AI and teamwork: A necessary balance
Overcoming the grand challenges of AI, such as moving from proof-of-concept to scalable solutions, is not unlike climbing a mountain. Both require preparation, strategy, teamwork and the ability to break the big into smaller parts. But most of all, they require balance: between technology and people, between preparation and execution, and between data and intuition.
Climbing with AI is not just a metaphor, it is an invitation to approach problems methodically, to trust the tools we have and, above all, to understand that we do not get to the top alone. In life as in work, reaching our goals is more satisfying and effective when we do it together, step by step and enjoying the journey.
Conclusion
Like climbing, success in implementing AI is not just about getting to the top, but about how we get there. It is a process that requires strategy, preparation and collaboration. Breaking a big challenge into small steps, equipping yourself with the right tools and trusting your team are lessons that apply to both mountains and AI projects.
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but with a methodical approach and the confidence that each step brings us closer to the top, it is possible to conquer any challenge. AI is not just a technology, it is an ally that empowers us, helps us make more informed decisions and enables us to reach new heights.
Just as in climbing we celebrate not only the achievement, but also the learning and the journey, in AI we should enjoy the process, valuing every quick win and every breakthrough. In the end, true success is not only reaching the top, but doing so in a sustainable way, with real impact and always as a team. Because the great peaks, whether they are mountains or AI projects, are conquered step by step and together.
