What Raising a Toddler can Teach you About Implementing AI

The following reflections from our Managing Partner first appeared as a LinkedIn article published on October 1, 2024.

As a parent of a one-year-old, I’ve learned that toddlers have their own pace, quirks, and a knack for throwing surprises your way. Every milestone— taking those first steps, uttering those first words—takes time, trial and error, and a lot of persistence. You could say the same about implementing AI in your business.

Much like raising a toddler, AI initiatives require a thoughtful balance of exploration, patience, and setting the right foundations for future success. The potential for both is vast but undefined at first—developing over time and in stages. Here are four lessons I’ve learned from parenting that can help guide your organization toward successful AI adoption.

1. Be curious and patient

Toddlers are natural explorers, testing boundaries and learning how the world works by touching, tasting, and sometimes breaking things in the process. Watching them pull open kitchen drawers for the hundredth time can test anyone’s patience, but it’s important to remember they’re learning—and so are you.

AI systems are also in a constant state of learning, and the technology is still evolving. Your AI project won’t work perfectly on day one—and that’s okay. Progress is incremental, and both the technology and your organization need time to adapt. AI development requires nurturing and a commitment to a long-term vision. You might experience growing pains like dealing with data quality issues or adjusting your business processes. These are all part of the journey.

Just like raising a child, guiding AI development is not a sprint—it’s a marathon. Results will take time, and milestones might seem small, but they’ll add up to meaningful change. Stay curious, be patient with the technology, and remember that AI success is achieved by taking deliberate steps, not by rushing to the finish line.

2. Encourage experimentation—but set boundaries

Every parent knows that toddlers need to explore their environment to learn. They also need limits. When you encourage your toddler to walk on their own, you’re there to make sure they don’t tumble down the stairs. Trial and error is crucial to development, but setting boundaries to avoid harm is equally important.

Fostering innovation and experimentation in AI is crucial, but those experiments must be conducted within defined parameters to mitigate risk. Start with pilot projects to test AI-driven processes in a controlled environment before scaling up. Establish governance frameworks to ensure ethical and responsible AI usage, focusing on data privacy, fairness, and regulatory compliance.  Like childproofing your home, your AI efforts need safeguards to minimize risks and avoid costly mistakes.

3. It takes a village

Raising a toddler is a team effort. As parents, we rely on a support network—whether it’s family, daycare, or pediatricians—to help us navigate our child’s development. We also seek expert advice on health and well-being, ensuring our children have the best possible foundation to grow.

Similarly, AI initiatives can only succeed with collaboration. Implementing AI requires a diverse team from across your organization—data scientists, IT professionals, and business leaders. Internal teams also benefit from consulting external experts to provide a fresh perspective and break the echo chamber. Like you consult a pediatrician for your child’s health, partnering with an AI consulting firm can help guide your strategy, provide specialized knowledge, and accelerate your success. These experts can help you identify the right use cases, establish governance frameworks, and ensure AI projects are aligned with your long-term goals.

By assembling the right mix of internal talent and external expertise, you can ensure AI initiatives stay on course and deliver meaningful results—just like leaning on your village helps your toddler thrive.

4. Start simple, then nurture the potential

You wouldn’t expect your toddler to recite the alphabet before they’ve learned to speak. In the early days, it’s about mastering the basics—crawling before walking, babbling before forming words. Over time, as they gain confidence, you can introduce more complexity.

Similarly, your AI strategy should begin with simple, manageable use cases. Start by automating repetitive tasks or analyzing basic customer data. These initial projects provide quick wins and help build confidence in AI’s potential. As your team becomes more comfortable and your AI matures, you can gradually introduce more sophisticated applications like machine learning and predictive analytics.

One of the greatest joys of parenting is watching your toddler grow into their potential. It’s the same with AI—what starts as small, focused initiatives eventually evolve into transformative tools for your organization. The key is to nurture your AI capabilities and give them the time and space to grow.

Growing together

Like raising a child, guiding AI development requires a long-term vision and a commitment to nurturing growth. Although the challenges along the way may feel overwhelming at times, the rewards are worth the effort.

To help you on this journey, our AI Readiness Assessment will evaluate your organization’s current capabilities and provide insights to help you unlock AI’s full potential in your organization. Take AI Readiness Assessment >>