Gary Vaynerchuk Urges Business Leaders to Embrace AI, Warning Against ‘Grandma’ Mindset

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Gary Vaynerchuk

LinkedIn Author

Chairman – VaynerX, CEO – VaynerMedia, Creator – VeeFriends

In a recent LinkedIn post, Gary Vaynerchuk urges business leaders to set aside personal feelings and embrace the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The entrepreneur and digital marketing expert cautions against viewing AI as a fleeting trend, emphasizing its profound and lasting impact on commerce and daily life.

Vaynerchuk directly addresses those who express reluctance towards new technologies, drawing a parallel to individuals who resist adopting modern tools. He states:

“My friends, technology does not care about your feelings. You might not like that AI is happening. You’re an ‘old school’ kind of guy or gal… but let me tell you what a businessman or businesswoman’s #1 job is: to not have feelings, emotions or ideologies around new technologies.”

The Unemotional Businessman’s Mandate

Gary Vaynerchuk argues that a core responsibility of any business professional is to remain objective when evaluating new technologies. He criticizes the tendency to hold onto outdated ideologies, comparing it to the common perception of older generations struggling with new applications.

“You know how you make fun of your grandma because she doesn’t know how to use some sort of app? A lot of you are becoming your grandma right now,” Vaynerchuk writes, highlighting the potential for business leaders to become obsolete if they refuse to adapt.

Learning from Historical Technological Shifts

The entrepreneur stresses the importance of historical perspective when considering technological disruption. He points to the internet’s initial underestimation and its subsequent foundational role in reshaping global politics and commerce. Vaynerchuk sees AI as a similarly monumental, if not greater, shift.

He implores his audience to avoid letting fear dictate their approach to AI, framing it as a significant opportunity akin to the early days of the internet.

“Please, my friends .. do not let the fear of another technology wave coming along hurt you. This is your biggest opportunity, truly since the mid-to-late ‘90s, to take advantage of the internet and explode .. but use the lessons of history, and know how many people underestimated the internet and allowed that technology to hurt them.”

AI: Not a Fad, But the Future

Vaynerchuk strongly refutes the notion that AI is merely a passing fad. He asserts that AI represents a fundamental, long-term change that will define the future for everyone.

“We continue to demonize new technologies .. but this AI one, this is BIG big.. This is not a fad .. this is the rest of your life,” he concludes. His message is a clear call to action for business leaders to proactively engage with and leverage AI, rather than resist it out of discomfort or skepticism.

📝 About This Content

This article is based on insights shared by Gary Vaynerchuk on LinkedIn.

📅 Originally posted on November 7, 2025 | View original post on LinkedIn →