74 % of CEOs fear for their jobs. 94 % suspect shadow AI in their own team. 37 % of projects are delayed due to regulations.

It is easy to be paralyzed by this wave of uncertainty.

But what if these fears are not technological problems at all, but Classic leadership challenges?

🎙️ You prefer to listen? Here's a short, AI-generated audio summary of this issue:

Today I have collected the 10 most frequent and most important questions I am asked by SME managers.

Here are the answers - no hype, just practice.

1. do I really have to fear for my job as CEO?

• The "Global AI Confessions Report" says 74 % of CEOs believe they could lose their job if they don't deliver measurable AI success.

• This fear is a symptom. It mainly affects those who see themselves as pure manager as an administrator of the status quo. Because yes, an AI is better at administrative and optimizing tasks.

• Concentrate on what is irreplaceable: Vision, culture and the development of your people. Don't see AI as a threat, but as your personal sparring partner for strategy and innovation.

2. isn't it safer to simply ban AI tools like ChatGPT?

• Reports show that major banks such as Deutsche Bank have blocked access. At the same time, 94 % of CEOs suspect that their employees are using these tools anyway ("shadow AI").

• A ban is not a strategy. Not only do you lose the trust of your most innovative employees, you also lose valuable data on where your internal processes and tools are failing.

• Create an official "playground". Establish clear, simple rules and actively ask: "What problem are you trying to solve with this tool?" Turn secrecy into an open discussion.

3. how do I detect "shadow AI" without creating a culture of mistrust?

• Shadow AI is the unofficial use of unauthorized tools by employees to get their work done.

• It's not about "catching" people. It's about understanding why they do it. Most of the time, it's an attempt to be more productive because official tools are missing or too cumbersome.

• Start a "tool amnesty". Conduct an anonymous survey: "Which unofficial tools make your job easier?" The answers are your free roadmap for improving your internal tech landscape.

4. regulations such as the EU AI Act are too complex for my SME. Shouldn't I just wait and see?

• Yes, the regulatory landscape, especially the coexistence of the GDPR and the AI Act, is complex. According to reports, this is why 37 % of AI projects are being delayed.

• Waiting is the most expensive option. While you wait, your competition builds a head start. Regulatory uncertainty is not an excuse to stand still, but a call to smarter action.

• Build your own AI environment for your SME. With a framework consisting of a secure automation hub, an open source model and your own data (RAG) on a European server, you are independent and "compliant by design".

5 What is the very first, safest step towards AI governance?

• Governance sounds like a huge project for corporations.

• For an SME, it essentially means only one thing: "Knowing what goes in and what comes out."

• Define a single, golden rule: "Never enter sensitive customer or company data into public AI tools." Communicate this rule clearly. This is 80 % of the hire and your foundation for everything else.

6. can AI really give better strategic advice than my experienced managers?

• 89 % of CEOs believe this, according to the report. My own experiments with specialized AI assistants confirm this - in certain areas.

• A specialized AI has no human biases, no fear of unpleasant truths and can analyze huge amounts of data objectively. It is the perfect "challenger" for entrenched thought patterns in the team.

• Don't use AI as a replacement, but as a supplement. Let your AI create a strategic design. Discuss the results in the team. The discussion is more valuable than any individual plan.

7. where is the limit? When should I NOT rely on an AI?

• AI is a tool for analysis and creation, not for empathy and final judgments.

• Human intuition, "gut feeling" and ethical considerations cannot be programmed. An AI can tell you, what is possible, but not, whether it is right.

• Draw a red line when making decisions that directly affect your corporate culture and your people. Use AI for preparation, but the final decision in personnel matters is always yours - as a human being.

8 Everyone is talking about "AI strategy". What does this mean in concrete terms for my SME with 50 employees?

• An "AI strategy" is not a 100-page document.

• For you, it means the answer to a single question: "In which one area of the company do we waste the most time on repetitive, manual tasks?"

• Identify this one area (e.g. customer service inquiries, quote creation, social media content). Set yourself the goal of automating this one process to 50 % in the next 90 days using a simple AI tool. That's your strategy.

9 How do I measure the success of AI initiatives when it's not just about cost savings?

• The ROI of AI is not always a hard number on paper.

• Profits are often soft: Faster innovation cycles, higher employee satisfaction (because annoying tasks are eliminated) and better decisions.

• Measure the "time saved". Ask your team at the end of the month: "How many hours did the AI save you this week that you could use for more creative work?" This figure is your most important KPI.

10. what is the biggest mindset mistake that SME leaders make when it comes to AI?

• The biggest mistake is to view AI purely as an IT topic.

• Don't let the introduction of AI become a pure efficiency and safety project. The true potential - the Transformation of business models and culture - is ignored.

• Make AI a top priority. You don't have to be able to program, but you do have to ask the strategic questions. Treat the introduction of AI like the most important product launch in your company's history. Because that's what it is.

Your next step: From knowledge to action

Answering these questions is the first step. The second is implementation.

If you want to stop just talking about AI and start using it, then the following event can be a good place to start.

Register now: AI Café on September 10 in Schaan!

After the summer break, the KI-Café with specific SME topics! We cordially invite you to an event that will give you practical impetus for digitalization and present exciting examples of digitalization from SMEs in the Liechtenstein and Eastern Switzerland region.

What you can expect:

• Presentation of the new digitization guide: Developed by the KMU-HSG and MMIND.

• Exciting practical application examples: SMEs for SMEs present their digitalization and AI projects, including b_smart, sl.one, CSL Corporate Services, HSW AG Reinigung und Facility Service, and CFP Business Consulting.

• Aperitif and exchange of experiences: Make valuable contacts and exchange ideas with like-minded people and experts.

Why you should be there:

• Gain practical insights and concrete examples of AI and digitalization directly from SMEs.

• Learn how you can use the new digitalization guide for your company.

• Find inspiration and solutions for your own digitalization issues.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Where: RUUF, Duxgass 55, 9494 Schaan

Costs: Free of charge

Organizer: MMIND in cooperation with the KMU-HSG

Get in touch right away here free of charge and mark the date in your calendar.