About the Book
This engaging guide is designed to demystify artificial intelligence (AI) in the business world, no advanced maths degrees or robotic companions are necessary. It tackles everything from traditional AI to the exciting realm of Generative AI, clearly distinguishing between what is genuinely beneficial and what is merely hype, all while demonstrating how to leverage AI to address real-world business challenges.
The first half of the book serves as an essential playbook for businesses eager to understand AI’s potential. It cuts through the jargon, illuminating what AI can achieve and showcasing how organisations are already harnessing it to save time, enhance efficiency, and secure a competitive advantage.
The second half introduces the concept of the "AI Native"—a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into business operations and daily life. This transformation opens thrilling opportunities, including new markets and creative work methods. It also prompts critical questions, like what happens when AI falters? The book carefully balances optimism with caution, offering insights that inspire thoughtful reflection.
Whether you’re leading a team, launching a startup, or gearing up for a technology-driven career, this book equips readers to make informed decisions about AI. It is an essential resource for executives, entrepreneurs, and graduate students alike, stripping away the buzzwords to deliver actionable insights.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction. 2. Traditional AI: Taking Advantage of a Proven Technology. 3. Traditional AI in Current Business Use. 4. What Is GenAI? What Are Its Current Limitations? 5. Current and Future Trajectories of GenAI. 6. GenAI in Current Business Use. 7. AI Native. 8. AI Unchecked. 9. Conclusion.
About the Author :
Terence C.M. Tse is a Professor of Finance at Hult International Business School. He co-founded the AI Native Foundation and the Chart ThinkTank; Terence is also a co-founder and Executive Director of Nexus FrontierTech, an AI company. Furthermore, he is a Visiting Professor at both ESCP Business School and Cotrugli Business School.
Mark Esposito is a public policy scholar and social scientist affiliated with Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and the Center for International Development at Harvard Kennedy School. He leads policy clinics on the governance of technology worldwide. He is a Professor at Hult International Business School and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University. He has co-founded several AI ventures, including Nexus FrontierTech, the AI Native Foundation, and The Chart ThinkTank, and serves as Chief Economist at micro1, a Silicon Valley–based AI lab. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global AI Alliance, a Senior Advisor at Strategy& (PwC), a professorial fellow of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, and the co-author of 14 books.
Danny Goh is a serial entrepreneur, early stage investor, and AI pioneer. As Founder and CEO of Nexus FrontierTech, he leads an AI research lab transforming unstructured data into actionable insights for global enterprises and governments. Danny serves as an Entrepreneurship Expert at the Saïd Business School, Oxford University, and a Senior Fellow at École des Ponts Business School, Paris. He co-authored the bestseller The AI Republic: Building the Nexus between Humans and Intelligent Automation and co-founded the AI Native Foundation and the Chart ThinkTank, uniting experts and policymakers to accelerate AI transformation across industries.
Paul Lee is a tech entrepreneur dedicated to making sophisticated technology simple and accessible. His latest venture, Graiphene AI, empowers small businesses by automating complex workflows. Previously, he founded the award-winning Aumeo Audio for personalized sound and Vocofy.ai for AI voice preservation.
Review :
"This book brilliantly frames the evolution we’re witnessing firsthand at micro1—where traditional recruiters are becoming AI Recruiter Operators, empowered not only to oversee but to strategically command powerful AI systems. Terence, Mark, Danny and Paul insightfully highlight this shift toward an ‘AI native’ world, underscoring how professionals are evolving from task-driven roles into strategic bosses of AI-driven workflows. Anyone looking to thrive, rather than just survive, in this AI-native era should read this essential guide."
Ali Ansar, CEO, micro1.ai and Computer Science MS, Stanford University
"Mastering the business of AI is no longer just a corporate goal, it is a cornerstone of our economic future—this book provides the blueprint."
Duncan Chiu, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency)
"Insightful and action-oriented, this book bridges the gap between AI theory and real-world transformation—a must-read for executives who aim to lead with vision and agility."
Roger Spitz, Futurist and Award-Winning Author; President, Techistential; Chair, Disruptive Futures Institute (San Francisco)
"The transition to an ‘AI Native’ world is the defining challenge of our generation; Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier is the essential map for navigating it wisely."
Kary Bheemaiah, Vice President, Chief Tech and Innovation Officer (CTIO), Capgemini Invent
"Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier is like a crash course in smart digital leadership. It gives you a super practical game plan for going all-in on AI—perfect for any company that wants to crush it in the next wave of innovation."
Mark Schlesinger, Former CIO, Broadridge
"With AI now serving as the ultimate competitive edge, this book is an essential guide for leaders. It offers a road map to rethinking and transforming organizations for a smarter, more digital future."
Yih-Ray Hwang, National Policy Advisor to the President of Taiwan
"As artificial intelligence reshapes every facet of society, this book provides the strategic compass we urgently need. Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier distils complexity into actionable insight for leaders, thinkers, and builders of the AI era."
Amit Kapoor, Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness
"Excellent overview of the evolution of AI over the years and the pathways towards an AI native future. A forward-looking and practical framework for forward-thinking practitioners and senior executives to shape their organisation’s digital transformation."
Maarten Kelder, Former MD, Monitor Deloitte (Asia) and Temus (Temasek)
"Forget AI road maps. This book quietly asks the essential: in becoming AI-native, what part of our nature are we rewiring and what does embracing AI mean for those who seek to lead amid the unpredictable human-driven evolution of intelligence itself."
Hamilton Mann, Best-selling author of Artificial Integrity and originator of the concept of Artificial Integrity
"Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier is a timely and indispensable guide for anyone seeking to understand and leverage the transformative power of artificial intelligence. The authors successfully bridge the gap between traditional AI and the emerging landscape of Generative AI, providing a practical and deeply informed roadmap for business leaders, technologists, and policymakers alike. What sets this book apart is its comprehensive approach—not only demystifying the technical foundations of AI but also exploring the strategic, societal, and ethical dimensions of becoming truly ‘AI native.’ From the solid grounding in rule-based systems and machine learning to the dynamic world of autonomous agentic AI, the authors provide a rare combination of clarity, foresight, and actionable insight. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and uncertainty, this book is both a compass and a call to action. It challenges readers to think beyond hype cycles and take ownership of AI’s role in shaping our collective future. It is one of the must-reads for those ready to lead responsibly in the age of intelligence."
Makoto Shibata, Head, Finolab
"Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier captures the urgency and opportunity of this moment. It’s a timely guide for leaders and organizations across the Asia-Pacific—and beyond—to turn AI potential into economic impact."
Dr Richard B. Dasher, Director, US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University
"I highly recommended this excellent book, written lucidly by academia and practitioners, for AI novices like me who desire to be informed of the various AI technologies out there—their evolution, their abilities, and their limitations. At APS, we have developed with the assistance of Nexus FrontierTech an AI Fundamental ESG System, which has helped us make better investment decisions. I expect more AI solutions in our lives, business, etc. as the technology improves."
Wong Kok Hoi, Founder and Chief Strategist, APS Asset Management
"Artificial intelligence is not magic. Despite the incessant hyperbole, there are no shibboleths that turn water into wine or hay into gold. Yes, AI can be transformative to your business, but effective AI takes work: careful, disciplined engineering of the necessary infrastructure with well-governed data curation and then, and only then, the application of still-evolving AI algorithms. Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier does an excellent job of articulating this foundational truth. Terence, Mark, Danny and Paul lay out the history, the intellectual underpinnings, and, without apology, the difficult homework that makes the effective implementation of contemporary artificial intelligence possible. Any CEO who needs artificial intelligence in his business—which is all of us—should read this book before committing to a major investment. It will save him time and improve the likelihood that the AI he buys will generate the results he needs."
Stephen C. Daffron, Co-Founder of Motive Partners and Chairman, BetaNXT
"In an era where organisations are seeking clear guidance, Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier will prove as an indispensable guide for executives who are seeking to understand the benefits and pitfalls of AI and will use it to help navigate their organisations through an inevitable period of material change."
Ben Bacon, Managing Director, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
