Should CEOs and business leaders be personally using large language models like ChatGPT? The question sparked an interesting debate recently, with some arguing that CEOs and senior management don’t need hands-on experience with every technology in their organization.

Their reasoning? Understanding the technology’s potential, limitations, and organizational benefits doesn’t require personal usage. On the surface, this argument makes sense – business leaders delegate and trust experts in various domains, from cybersecurity to supply chain management.

But here’s where this logic falls short: Large Language Models (LLMs) aren’t just another technology tool. They represent the first general-purpose technology since the internet, with implications that ripple across every aspect of business operations.

Think about how the internet changed not just how we work, but how we think about business possibilities. LLMs are creating a similar shift. The difference between reading about them and actually using them is like trying to understand the internet’s potential in the ’90s without ever having opened a web browser.

When CEOs and senior managers actively use LLMs, they gain three critical advantages:

1. Firsthand Understanding of Capabilities
   Working directly with LLMs reveals their true strengths and limitations in ways that reports and presentations simply can’t capture. You start seeing opportunities for implementation that might not be obvious from the outside.
   
2. Cultural Leadership
   When leaders engage with new technologies, it sends a powerful message throughout the organization. It shows that adaptation and learning are valued at every level, creating a culture of innovation and experimentation.
   
3. Strategic Insight
   Personal experience with LLMs helps leaders make more informed decisions about AI integration, investment, and organizational change. They can better evaluate proposals, challenge assumptions, and guide their teams toward realistic goals.

The stakes are high. By December 2024, a CEO who hasn’t experimented with ChatGPT might be signaling more than just technological hesitation – they’re revealing a mindset that could put their entire organization at risk.

This isn’t about technical expertise or becoming an AI expert. It’s about maintaining the curiosity and hands-on learning attitude that effective leadership demands in our rapidly evolving business landscape.

Want to start your journey with AI implementation but feeling unsure where to begin? Join The Hybrid Advantage community, where forward-thinking professionals come together to master practical AI applications.