IgniteTech has emerged as an early test case for radical corporate adoption of artificial intelligence. Chief Executive Officer Eric Vaughan said he dismissed roughly 80 percent of staff in 2023, introduced a mandatory “AI Monday” for hands-on training and built a centralised AI organisation to accelerate product development. Two years on, the Austin-based software company reports a 75 percent EBITDA margin, has rolled out two patent-pending AI products and completed an acquisition, with new features now launched in days rather than months. The shake-up highlights a growing divide in corporate America. A Gartner survey published in May found 77 percent of chief executives view AI as transformative, yet fewer than half believe their technology officers can navigate the shift, while Bain & Co. estimates only about one in five companies are successfully scaling AI investments. A New York Times report last week noted many senior leaders still struggle to use the tools they are mandating for their organisations. IgniteTech’s move has drawn scrutiny. A WRITER survey suggests about one-third of workers have actively resisted AI deployments, and critics—including Mindstone CEO Joshua Wöhle—argue that “augmentation beats automation,” saying upskilling existing staff is more sustainable. Ikea, for instance, stresses that it deploys AI to handle tasks, not eliminate jobs. Vaughan maintains the culture reset was essential to compete: “Changing minds was harder than adding skills.” Whether other companies replicate the drastic approach or favour gradual retraining, the results at IgniteTech will be closely watched as private firms seek an edge—and healthier margins—before heading to public markets.