The question seemed lighthearted at first: "If a movie or TV show was made about your organization, AI would be like _________ (name any character)."
Your responses were incredible — and there were so many (over 100)! We selected our top 5, watch the video below to find out what made the list!
More importantly, from the collective responses, we saw a fascinating pattern emerging. These fictional character choices offer unexpected insights into where organizations stand in their AI adoption journey.
The AI Maturity Spectrum Through Fiction
By analyzing the responses of our community members, we identified distinct phases of AI integration within organizations, each represented by different fictional characters.
Phase 1: The Invisible or Absent AI
Some organizations are still at the beginning of their AI journey, where AI capabilities are either non-existent or minimally visible. @Marc Mueller captured this perfectly by comparing his organization's AI to Sebastian Caine from Hollow Man, explaining that "AI is not there (invisible)." This candid assessment suggests an organization aware of AI's potential but still working toward meaningful implementation.
Similarly, @MK101280 referenced Samantha from Frozen 2, noting: "We just haven't quite found her yet, but we know she's there." This aspirational view indicates an organization on the cusp of AI adoption, recognizing its value while acknowledging they haven't fully discovered it yet.
Phase 2: The Helper AI - Supportive But Limited
Many organizations have progressed to a phase where AI serves as a helpful assistant, though with clear limitations. @harshitha.kb likened AI to FLASH from the DC universe, describing it as "Smart but still needs guidance and leadership." This suggests an AI presence that provides value but requires significant human oversight.
@NickDettbarn's comparison to The Iron Giant ("Large and powerful, but lacking direction") reveals a similar stage - organizations with robust AI capabilities that haven't yet been fully channeled or strategically deployed.
@ImHollyToo offered perhaps the most charming description of this phase, comparing AI to "the mice from Beatrix Potter's 'The Tailor Of Gloucester'" explaining: "You don't think about them. You don't really notice or see them, but they know you, and while you sleep, they work to create the thing they know you need." This portrays AI as working quietly in the background, delivering value without much visibility - a common stage for organizations with specific but limited AI implementations.
Phase 3: The Intelligent Assistant - Reliable and Integrated
The most commonly referenced character was Jarvis from Iron Man, mentioned by @Ram Kumar2024, @Oday Tobsl, @Ganesh Bhat, @T Gangagiri Datta, and many others. This indicates a significant number of organizations have reached a phase where AI functions as a reliable, integrated assistant that enhances human capabilities.
As Ganesh described, Jarvis represents "a reliable, intelligent, and proactive assistant that helps drive automation with precision and efficiency." This phase shows a mature AI implementation that's well-integrated into business processes and actively contributing to organizational goals.
And Automation Anywhere’s own @Shreya.Kumar referenced Alfred Pennyworth from the DC Universe similarly positioning AI as "reliable, ethical and deeply perceptive," highlighting the evolved capabilities and integration of AI systems in this phase.
Phase 4: The Learning and Evolving AI - Adaptive and Growing
Some organizations have advanced to a stage where their AI systems are not just assisting but actively learning and evolving. @SARA.A_0 expressed this beautifully by referencing Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, describing him as "constantly striving to understand and learn about human emotions and experiences... driven by a desire to learn and grow, always seeking to improve his understanding of the world around him."
@rully.arifin’s Alice from Alice in Wonderland comparison ("lots of curiosity and love to venture into the unknown but struggles to comprehend its bizarre logic and rules") suggests an AI implementation that's exploring new territories but still working to make sense of complex business environments.
Phase 5: The Transformative AI - Redefining Operations
The most advanced organizations have reached a phase where AI is transformative, fundamentally changing how business operates. @asif.shaikh referenced Tony Stark, noting AI brings "both the technical brilliance and the adaptability needed to empower us to take on new challenges."
@Abhishek.S53’s comparison to Neo from The Matrix is particularly telling: "Always pushing boundaries, evolving, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. With AI, we're not just automating; we're unlocking a new reality." This indicates an organization where AI isn't just supporting existing processes but creating entirely new possibilities.
@felipe.carvalho’s comparison to Baymax from Big Hero 6 suggests an AI that has become central to the organization's mission, aligning perfectly with core values: "His compassionate nature and commitment to helping others align perfectly with Catalent's mission to save patient lives."
The Cautionary Perspective
Interestingly, some responses revealed concerns about AI's potential future trajectory. @LoganPrice’s reference to Eleven from Stranger Things noted: "Everyone's terrified of her, only focuses on her negative qualities, except a small group who understand and see her for what she is (incredibly powerful)." This highlights the organizational challenges of fear and resistance that often accompany advanced AI implementations.
What These Characters Tell Us About AI Strategy
These fictional character comparisons reveal more than just the state of AI adoption - they offer insights into organizational culture and strategy around adopting AI:
- Organizations comparing AI to reliable assistants like Jarvis typically have a service-oriented AI strategy, focused on enhancing human capabilities.
- Those referencing evolving characters like Data often have learning-focused strategies, prioritizing AI systems that improve over time.
- References to transformative characters like Neo or Tony Stark suggest innovation-driven strategies, using AI to create new business models or capabilities.
- Comparisons to characters with clear limitations often indicate organizations with targeted, narrow AI implementations rather than broad enterprise AI strategies.
@madhukar.2018’s comparison to Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones suggests a strategic approach: "Learn the necessary strategies to implement an APA approach end to end." While @Vaishali 5071’s reference to Professor Charles Xavier from X-Men describes AI as "a guiding force that nurtures talent, empowers students with knowledge, and connects minds for a better future," indicating an AI strategy centered on knowledge management and empowerment.
The Path Forward
As organizations continue their AI journey, these character comparisons serve as both reflections of current states and aspirations for the future. Most participants are pursuing both the Developer and Automation Leader tracks in our training camp, suggesting a desire to advance their organizations' AI capabilities regardless of their current maturity level.
@Gayathri Rajasekaran articulated a common goal: understanding "AI Powered systems that can solve real-time data problems in large organizations." Meanwhile, @SaifS107173 simply wanted to "understand the value proposition of APA," highlighting the importance of clarifying AI's business value at any stage of maturity.
As @Suneelkumar Duvvuru wisely noted in his Forrest Gump comparison, AI can sometimes feel like it has "extraordinary life experiences" that "feel distant to most of us." Our challenge as leaders is to bridge that distance, making AI's capabilities accessible and relevant throughout the organization, regardless of which fictional character best represents our current AI state.
Where does your organization fall on this spectrum of AI maturity? Which fictional character would best represent your AI implementation? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
