In 2026, many companies are implementing top-down mandates for AI transformation, reminiscent of China's Great Leap Forward in 1958. The original campaign aimed to rapidly industrialize China by producing steel, resulting in widespread famine due to ineffective practices.

Shopify, Duolingo, and Fiverr implement an "AI-first" philosophy that requires employees to prove that AI cannot perform their tasks before receiving resources such as headcount, budget, or tools. This perspective positions AI as a gatekeeper, prompting human workers to justify their roles in relation to AI capabilities.