Last week we talked about positioning yourself instead of trying to keep up with every AI development. This week: the timeline question everyone's wondering about.
Experts are projecting massive disruption from AI agents and single-employee productivity boosts that could reshape how agencies operate. But here's what the hype cycle isn't telling you: adoption takes a lot longer than the technology suggests.
The 90/10 Problem
The tech gets impressive fast. Getting it reliable takes years.
Self-driving cars have been technically capable for years, but it took nearly a decade more to reach the point of being legally viable because the cost of mistakes is measured in lives lost.
AI agents that can use computers are here right now. They can complete tasks, navigate interfaces, and execute workflows. But they're not reliable enough to let loose on client work. They still make mistakes that require human oversight. That gap between "impressive demo" and "I can trust this unsupervised" will likely take another 3-5 years to close.
In the meantime, these tools will boost efficiency, but they'll require frequent monitoring and direction.
The Wix Paradox
Here's another data point: Squarespace launched in 2004. Wix followed in 2006. Both promised to make WordPress and custom websites irrelevant by letting anyone build a professional site in minutes.
Twenty-one years later? 43% of all websites still run on WordPress. Tens of thousands of small businesses launch new WordPress sites every month. Most business owners still have terrible websites when you look an inch beneath the surface.
What This Means for AI
The cutting-edge companies and hyper-competitive industries will integrate AI fast. Everyone else? It'll be a decade-long process, just like website builders.
The window is longer than the panic suggests. But it's still closing.
Next week: where the smart agencies are placing their bets.