Mike Thiessen, PwC & Rebecca Potts, Google | Google Cloud Next 2026 – Embracing AI: Navigating Challenges and Customization

Standing on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street in Chicago’s Loop, it’s easy to feel the city’s pulse quicken—not just from the rush of commuters or the clatter of the ‘L’ overhead, but from a quieter, more profound shift happening in boardrooms and innovation hubs across the city. The conversations I’ve overheard lately at spots like the Gage or over coffee at Intelligentsia on State Street aren’t just about quarterly earnings or the latest Cubs game; they’re increasingly centered on how artificial intelligence is reshaping perform itself. This isn’t abstract futurism—it’s a tangible current, one that gained sharp focus during recent discussions at Google Cloud Next 2026, where leaders like Mike Thiessen of PwC and Rebecca Potts of Google emphasized that embracing AI isn’t about replacing human ingenuity but about navigating its challenges to unlock deeper levels of customization and value.

What struck me most from those conversations—and what feels immediately relevant walking down streets lined with historic skyscrapers like the Willis Tower or the Tribune Tower—is how this AI evolution is forcing a reevaluation of where and how value is created. For decades, Chicago’s identity as a hub for finance, manufacturing, logistics and professional services has been built on deep expertise, relationship-driven sales, and operational scale. Now, as Thiessen noted, the challenge isn’t just adopting novel tools; it’s managing the disruption they bring to established workflows even as ensuring the technology serves specific, nuanced business needs rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model. Potts echoed this, framing the real opportunity not in chasing the shiniest algorithm but in using AI to solve problems that are uniquely Chicago—whether that’s optimizing freight flows through the nation’s busiest rail hub, personalizing patient outreach for the city’s vast healthcare networks, or helping mid-sized manufacturers in Pilsen or Bridgeport customize production runs with greater agility.

This shift has second-order effects that ripple through the local economy in ways that aren’t always obvious at first glance. Consider the impact on professional services firms clustered along LaSalle Street. As AI handles more routine data analysis or document review, the premium shifts toward skills that machines struggle to replicate: contextual judgment, ethical reasoning, and the ability to synthesize complex, ambiguous information into trusted advice—a distinctly human edge that’s especially vital in sectors like Chicago’s robust legal community or its actuarial and risk management firms. Simultaneously, there’s a growing demand for what you might call “AI translators”—professionals who can bridge the gap between technical teams and business units, ensuring that AI implementations actually solve real problems on the ground, whether that’s helping a logistics company near the Interstate 90/94 junction reduce empty miles or assisting a community bank in Avalon Park tailor loan products to small business owners.

Given my background in analyzing how technological shifts reshape urban economies, if this trend impacts you here in Chicago—whether you’re leading a team in the West Loop, managing operations in Rogers Park, or advising clients from Naperville—the question becomes: what kind of local expertise do you need to navigate this transition wisely? You’ll want to gaze for professionals who don’t just understand the technology but grasp Chicago’s specific industrial DNA.

First, seek out **Specialized AI Integration Consultants for Legacy Industries**. These aren’t generic tech advisors; they look for firms or individuals with demonstrable experience in sectors foundational to Chicago’s economy—consider logistics, commodities trading, or heavy manufacturing. Key criteria include a proven ability to conduct workflow assessments that respect union environments or legacy IT systems, familiarity with Illinois data privacy considerations (like BIPA implications), and a portfolio showing how they’ve customized AI tools to solve specific, localized problems—such as reducing dwell time for intermodal containers at the 59th Street intermodal yard or optimizing energy use in historic brick manufacturing plants on the South Side.

Second, consider **Local AI Ethics and Governance Advisors**. As AI systems influence decisions affecting hiring, lending, or service delivery, the need for trusted guidance on responsible use grows. Look for practitioners affiliated with respected Chicago institutions—perhaps linked to university programs at Illinois Tech or DePaul, or involved with groups like the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ tech initiatives. Essential qualifications include experience developing AI risk frameworks applicable to regulated industries (finance, healthcare), a track record of facilitating cross-functional ethics reviews, and deep understanding of how algorithmic bias might manifest in Chicago’s diverse socioeconomic contexts—ensuring solutions promote equity, not exacerbate disparities, especially in areas like Englewood or Little Village.

Third, look for **Custom AI Solution Developers Focused on Mid-Market Firms**. While giants like Boeing or United Airlines have vast resources, much of Chicago’s economic engine lies in its thousands of mid-sized companies. Ideal partners here demonstrate fluency in scaling solutions from pilot to enterprise without requiring seven-figure upfront spends, expertise in integrating with prevalent local tech stacks (like specific ERP systems common in Midwest distributors), and a commitment to knowledge transfer—ensuring your team isn’t left dependent on external vendors. They should speak your industry’s language, whether that’s understanding the tolerances needed in precision machining along the Calumet Corridor or the seasonal demands of food processing operations near the Stockyards.

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