What an autonomous firm might look like
Strategy firm BCG recently published a paper on what autonomous firms might look like. It is one of the most practical examples so far.
More importantly they look through the lens of a CEO who is facing competition from AI only rivals. Something that is keeping many awake
They highlight that AI challenges a range of competitive assumptions:
COSTS: With agentic AI delivering at a fraction of the full-loaded human costs, the margins change significantly. They operate 24/7, no downtime, no 'off' days.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: Will get better as Agents learn and anticipate their needs, removing friction from a customers experience of your products.
ADAPTABILITY: It takes time to change human beliefs and behaviours, agent can be refocused and rebuilt quickly. Continuously improving, evolving, spotting opportunities. Agents are less attached to the past.
They see a range of human capabilities as still critical, and that will act as constraints until AI learns and improves (which it will).
→ Curation: Choosing what should reflect your business, or not
→ Imagination: Bringing practicality and prioritisation to ideas generated
→ Empathy: Where the human touch still matters
→ Artisan: Where being created by humans holds value
They see some interesting strategic opportunities to refocus your business to work and collaborate with AI only organisations:
→ Physical Supply: The making and moving of physical goods will still be needed
→ Trust and Relationships: Where this is still needed for community, social proof, or risks to be taken
→ Ethical Stewardship: Where governments require human oversight
They wrap things up with an ethical question: Do we, as a society, want AI-only firms to become a reality?
I am not sure that we, as a society, will get to choose.
Well worth a read: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/why-ceos-need-to-prepare-for-ai-only-rivals
BESCI AI OPINION
Whilst this paper recognises the competitive threats that an AI only rival will have to your organisation, it feel as though it is missing the practical advice that a CEO might need.
Many organisations are already hybrid, with outsourced back offices, production, and supply chain. Their ability to become AI enabled is far eaier than it would have been.
We spend much of our time right now running 'Blue Sky' workshops with our clients - what would your organisation look like if you started over. What assets would you retain, what would you leave behind.
Humans are naturally attached to the past, the IKEA bias, where we value what we have invested time and energy in, even if it no longer serves us. It is hard to let go.
AI has no such constraint. It learns, it improves, it adapts. It doesn't hold onto the past, it uses it to inform the future.
If a renown strategy firm, like BCG, is unable to offer practical steps to its CEO clients, then it gives room for us to fill that gap.
