This week on Buffering, we welcome back Charlene Li, New York Times bestselling author and co-author of Winning with AI: The 90 Day Blueprint for Success. Together, we explore what AI fluency really means, why the gap between AI leaders and laggards is widening, and how organizations can move beyond pilots to create measurable business value. Charlene shares practical insights on building AI-ready teams, developing organizational fluency, and why leadership—not technology—is the real differentiator in the AI era.

John Zack, Gabe, and Charlene discuss the rise of AI superhumans, the shift from tasks to outcomes, and how leaders can create the conditions for transformation without getting trapped in endless experimentation. From escape velocity and AI trust to the future of work and organizational change, this conversation offers a roadmap for leaders looking to turn AI from a tool into a competitive advantage.