In this concise monologue, Paul Barnhurst stresses that data quality is the critical starting point for any AI investment. He advises organizations to first identify where their competitive advantage lies and to avoid wasting resources on AI tools before their data is reliable. Barnhurst recommends evaluating both new and established software vendors by probing their AI and data roadmaps, and being willing to adopt solutions that simplify long‑term operations even if they replace existing tools earlier than expected. He cautions against adding a large AI layer without a clear data strategy, suggesting that AI can be part of a broader data‑fix plan but should not be the first expense. The overall guidance is to prioritize fixing data, understand vendor capabilities, and make measured software decisions in the current AI‑driven landscape.
