The founder of Inman argued on stage Tuesday that artificial intelligence will have a massive effect on business — and that it’ll reward “accountability and responsibility.”
Brad Inman acknowledged Tuesday morning that the current moment feels “volatile,” “uncertain” and “chaotic.”
“Your old models are breaking,” Inman said on stage during the opening moments of Inman Connect New York.
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But, Inman added, despite the uncertainty, the present moment is one of opportunity for entrepreneurs — and those who are courageous. And artificial intelligence is the key to unlocking that opportunity.
“We’re entering the fifth industry revolution,” he said, comparing the rise of AI to previous advances, such as the rise of steam power, electricity, computers and the internet.
Much of Inman’s time on stage focused on persuading attendees in the packed Hilton ballroom that they should be optimistic about the present. His presentation began, for example, by arguing that “you’re lucky to be alive right now” and that “you are a biological miracle.”
He went on to say that the present is “an unbelievable time” characterized by creativity and “structural change.”
Brad Inman at Inman Connect New York 2026. Credit: AJ Canaria Creative Services
Inman went on to paint a picture of the future. Despite some naysaying, he argued, the future of AI isn’t one that will lead to mass unemployment, human irrelevance or “dystopia.”
“I also believe that it’s an optimistic future,” Inman said, telling attendees moments later that “you’re not replaceable.”
He went on to describe how he himself has pivoted thanks to AI. That has included, among other things, a new company focused on longevity that integrates AI into its business DNA. And he described AI as “joyful intelligence.”
But Inman also said AI will not uniformly turn everyone into a winner. Instead, the technology functions as a “compounder” that “rewards accountability and responsibility.”
“AI will not save broken business models,” Inman said. “If you’re lazy, it makes you irrelevant.”
Inman ultimately urged Connect attendees to participate in the current wave of change, noting that “disruption never knocks on the door. It breaks the door down.”
“You’re lucky to be alive right now,” Inman said, “in what I think is a consequential moment in history.”
Email Jim Dalrymple II