I’ve been where you are—running a small business, watching a major technology shift and wondering what it meant for the future. At that time, it was about the internet. We all knew it was going to be big, but none of us could foresee just how much it would change the world. New industries were born; all industries changed; some died.
With AI, we face that moment again and this time it’s even more profound. To say that AI is going to change everything is not an overstatement, it’s a fact. It’s the first technology that learns continuously, is able to reason on its own and improves itself iteratively. Businesses are just starting to feel its impact and most, as with the internet, are struggling to figure out how to use it effectively.
I started my career building custom software for small businesses across every industry. I sat with their teams, learned how their operations worked, and built solutions that replaced manual processes to save them time and money. Every engagement required us to first understand the business problem, then the processes and people and, as the last step, apply the technology.
I carried that experience into leadership positions at two of the world’s largest technology companies—Microsoft and Cisco. I led award-winning teams and managed our relationships with some of Canada’s largest enterprises. I helped ensure that the technology we sold actually delivered results.
The lesson was always the same—the technology rarely fails; it’s the preparation that does. That’s why SeventyThirty.AI exists.
Getting AI right is 70% people and process, 30% technology. But when it works, something powerful happens—the ratio reverses. AI handles 70% of the routine. Your people keep doing the 30% that matters most—creativity, discernment, and genuine human connection. That’s the Human Premium—and it’s what makes it all work.
I don’t teach prompting tricks or recommend chatbots. I help business owners identify real problems, design practical AI pilots with measurable outcomes, and build the organizational readiness that drives success.
If you know AI matters but aren’t sure where to start, let’s talk. Not a pitch. A conversation about your business and crafting a practical path forward.
Roy Gowler is the founder of SeventyThirty.AI, based in Waterloo, Ontario—home to one of Canada’s most concentrated technology and innovation ecosystems.
