How Practical AI Is Transforming Business One Step at a Time
“Keep secrets safe.”
Those three words captured the heart of a 21-page compliance framework—instantly distilled by AI.
They came about because a learning and development leader at a large medical device company faced a challenge. He had a lengthy, dense security policy that employees needed to understand, but no one would ever read. Instead of expecting employees to digest every detail, he turned to generative AI (GenAI), prompting it to create a concise, memorable summary.
Boom. Three words: “Keep secrets safe.”
That simple, human-friendly phrase captured the essence of the company’s complex compliance framework. This is “Practical AI” in action.
The real question isn’t whether AI can be useful—it already is. The question is: Are you using it?
And in case you’re wondering—yes, AI has already impacted what you’re reading. GenAI helped shape and refine this very article, a second example of AI’s practical application in business.
The real question isn’t whether AI can be useful—it already is. The question is: Are you using it?
While it is critical to have the compliance and risk teams be part of the decision-making process to set up the appropriate framework to be used at your company, it’s also critical to find a use case to get started. Because AI is here. It’s a competitive necessity today. This article explores how businesses—especially those in highly regulated industries—can safely and effectively leverage AI.
It’s time to move from curiosity to capability—one practical AI step at a time.
Discover How Leading Teams Put Practical AI to Work
Allego’s 2025 AI in Revenue Enablement Report reveals how top-performing organizations are using AI to drive efficiency, shorten sales cycles, and reduce risk. See how your team can move from AI curiosity to capability—safely and strategically. Get the report.
AI Is Safe, Easy to Use, and Essential—Right Now
There’s a common refrain in boardrooms today: “We’re waiting for our compliance team to approve AI.”
That’s a mistake. In the same way that when electricity was first brought to consumer markets starting in the 1920s to 1930s, there were initially no regulations or inspections that were required. That was a problem because electricity is dangerous, especially if it is not insulated and installed properly. Over time, safety regulations were established and to this day, electrical work needs to be signed off when it is completed by an electrical inspector. Likewise, AI has tremendous power but needs the proper framework because it can pose dangers such as a security breach of sensitive data if not used correctly.
Across multiple industries, innovative companies are already using AI to work smarter, move faster, and gain an edge.
Here’s the truth: AI is not a reckless gamble—it’s a calculated advantage when used responsibly. The technology is already embedded in tools your teams rely on daily, from email assistants to predictive analytics. What’s changing now is the scale and speed at which AI can amplify human potential across an organization.
“Don’t Tell Me You Can’t Use AI to Search Your Own Documents.”
If you’ve ever struggled to find the right information in a sea of company files, you know the frustration. AI eliminates that pain point instantly. Imagine asking, “What were last quarter’s key sales objections?” and getting an instant, data-backed summary—rather than sifting through a dozen reports.
This isn’t hypothetical. Companies already use AI-powered search to extract knowledge from internal documentation, making insights accessible in seconds.
You Don’t Need Permission to Innovate
For many organizations, the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn’t technology—it’s mindset. Leaders must shift from “Can we use AI?” to “How do we use AI responsibly?”
Yes, compliance and risk management matter. But rather than waiting for a green light, forward-thinking companies are asking:
- How can we implement AI securely within our existing policies?
- What guardrails need to be in place to maximize benefits while mitigating risks?
- Where can AI provide immediate value with minimal risk?
The key is to start small, learn fast, and scale intelligently. Organizations that take a practical, incremental approach—rather than holding out for a “perfect” AI strategy—are the ones pulling ahead.
AI Is Already Here. Are You Ready?
Think about your own business. What are the time-consuming, repetitive, or inefficient processes that AI could streamline today?
- Data analysis? AI can synthesize complex datasets in seconds.
- Training and onboarding? AI-powered coaching tools personalize learning at scale.
- Sales enablement? AI can surface insights from thousands of customer interactions.
In the next section, we’ll explore the real risks of AI—and why they’re often smaller than you think.
AI Risks vs. Rewards: What’s the Real Exposure?
Every executive conversation about AI eventually arrives at the same question: “But what about the risks?”
It’s a fair concern. AI is a powerful tool, and like any tool, it must be used responsibly. But here’s the key distinction: There’s a difference between real risk and perceived risk.
Let’s put it in perspective.
What’s Riskier—AI or Human Bias?
Imagine your company requires employees to complete annual compliance training. At the end of the training, they take a quiz to assess their understanding. Now, consider two scenarios:
- A human scores the quiz—potentially bringing inconsistencies, unconscious bias, or errors into the evaluation.
- An AI-powered tool scores the quiz—applying a standardized, objective rubric with no bias, and delivering immediate feedback.
Which one introduces more risk?
If anything, AI reduces human error and bias in many cases. It can also save time, ensuring that compliance efforts are both thorough and scalable.
AI Is Already Mitigating Risk—Not Creating It
Let’s take another example: sales coaching. Many organizations rely on managers to review sales calls and provide feedback to reps. But how often do managers have the time to thoroughly listen to every call? And how consistently are they scoring them?
AI-powered conversation intelligence tools already help sales teams:
- Analyze every call, not just a small sample
- Identify trends in customer objections
- Spot coaching opportunities based on actual data
AI doesn’t replace human judgment—it enhances it. Instead of relying on gut instinct, companies can now make data-driven decisions, improving both performance and compliance.
Not Using AI Is the Bigger Risk
The irony is that many companies fear AI for compliance reasons, yet they fail to recognize the risk of not using it.
Here’s the real risk of inaction:
- Falling behind competitors who are using AI to improve efficiency and decision-making
- Wasting employee time on repetitive, manual tasks that AI could automate
- Losing top talent as employees gravitate toward companies that embrace innovation
Rather than avoiding AI, the smarter move is to embrace AI with guardrails. Companies should focus on governance frameworks, responsible AI policies, and proper training—not indefinite delays.
AI isn’t perfect. It requires oversight. However, the risks of inaction far outweigh the risks of responsible adoption.
4 AI-Powered Tools That Deliver Immediate Business Impact
By now, it’s clear that AI is safe, practical, and necessary for companies that want to stay competitive. But what does AI actually look like in action?
For executives in highly regulated industries—like insurance, finance, and healthcare—the key is finding low-risk, high-impact AI applications that drive efficiency without compromising security or compliance.
Here are four AI-powered tools that companies are already using to unlock value today.
1. AI-Powered Search: Find Answers Instantly
Instead of sifting through endless documents, employees can ask AI-powered search tools direct questions and get instant, accurate, and citation-backed answers.
Why it matters:
- Reduces time wasted searching for information
- Ensures employees use the most up-to-date policies and procedures
- Minimizes compliance risks by surfacing verified company-approved content
Example: A global insurance firm used AI search to help underwriters quickly access key policy details, historical claims data, and compliance guidelines—reducing decision-making time by 30%.
2. AI-Generated Quizzes and Training Assessments
AI can automate the creation and scoring of training quizzes, ensuring employees understand critical compliance and business topics.
Why it matters:
- Speeds up onboarding and training for new hires
- Eliminates bias in scoring and evaluations
- Ensures that compliance training is both effective and engaging
Example: A large financial services company used AI to create personalized compliance training for employees based on real-time knowledge gaps. The result? A 40% increase in engagement and better retention of key policies.
3. AI-Powered Sales Call Analysis: Sharpen Your Team’s Messaging
AI analyzes recorded sales calls to identify trends, pinpoint objections, and provide coaching recommendations.
Why it matters:
- Surfaces the best-performing talk tracks from top sellers
- Flags compliance risks (e.g., misleading claims, regulatory violations)
- Provides sales reps with AI-generated coaching—helping them improve faster
Example: A leading insurance company used AI-powered call analysis to evaluate customer objections and improve its pitch for life insurance policies. Within months, win rates increased by 18%.
4. AI Dialog Simulators: Train Employees for Real-World Conversations
AI can simulate real customer interactions, allowing employees to practice handling objections, explaining policies, or navigating difficult conversations.
Why it matters:
- Helps employees gain confidence before engaging with real clients
- Provides instant AI-generated feedback on tone, clarity, and effectiveness
- Scales training across large teams—without requiring managers to oversee every session
Example: An insurance provider trained its customer service agents using AI-driven roleplay simulations. New agents reached full productivity 3x faster than with traditional training methods.
These AI-powered tools aren’t futuristic experiments—they’re available and driving impact right now. The key is to start small, test what works, and scale adoption intelligently.
Practical AI: From Curiosity to Capability
AI isn’t the future—it’s the present. The companies that embrace Practical AI now will outpace competitors, unlock efficiency, and drive smarter decision-making. Those that hesitate will struggle to keep up.
The key to success isn’t waiting for the “perfect” AI strategy—it’s taking small, practical steps today. Whether it’s AI-powered search, automated training, or real-time sales coaching, Practical AI is already delivering results. The question is: Are you using it?
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Korsgaden Insights.
About the Author: Mark Magnacca is President and Co-Founder of Allego. He is also the author of So What? How to Communicate What Really Matters to Your Audience and co-author of Digital Sales Revolution, which provides a roadmap to the shifting digital selling universe, and Mastering Virtual Selling: Orchestrating Sales Success, a book that transformed virtual selling strategies.
Discover How Leading Teams Put Practical AI to Work
Allego’s 2025 AI in Revenue Enablement Report reveals how top-performing organizations are using AI to drive efficiency, shorten sales cycles, and reduce risk. See how your team can move from AI curiosity to capability—safely and strategically. Get the report.
