Executives Confirm: AI Helps More Than Replaces As Albania Appoints First Digital Minister - Why This Moment Defines Artificial Intelligence Maturity

In the last 24 hours, we have witnessed a number of developments which, taken together, reveal something fundamental: artificial intelligence is finally leaving its turbulent adolescence and entering adulthood. And that changes everything.

While Brazilian executives confirm that AI has helped rather than replaced workers, a Albania makes history by appointing the world's first AI-generated minister. At the same time, major publishers like Rolling Stone sue Google for misuse of AI content, and experts warn of the risks of using AI as a therapist.

What's happening? Simple: we're seeing AI grow and define its limits. And for those who understand this moment, the opportunities are enormous.

The End of the “AI Will End All Jobs” Era”

Guilherme Assis, CEO of fintech Gorila, offers a practical example that should reassure many people. Your company manages around 2 million portfolios daily with R$ 250 billion in assets using AI, But not to replace people - to enhance them.

“Generative AI offers precise analysis based on structured data for our investment advisors,” explains Assis. In other words: AI processes data, humans make strategic decisions.

This is the same logic we see at VOLL, which launched Smart Hub - a marketplace of AI agents that automate bureaucratic processes, freeing managers to focus on strategy. It's not replacement, it's elevation of function.

In my experience supporting thousands of startups, I have always observed that the most transformative technologies don't destroy jobs - they redefine them. AI is following exactly this pattern, and the data confirms it.

When AI Finds Its Limits (And Why That's Good)

But it's not all flowers in the garden of artificial intelligence. The last 24 hours have also brought us important reminders of where AI shouldn't tread just yet.

THE Fantastico investigates the use of AI as a therapist and discovered something worrying: half of users with mental health problems are turning to robots for emotional support. Psychoanalyst Christian Dunker put it bluntly: “AI has no training, doesn't diagnose and can't deal with serious crises”.

At the same time, we see Meta creating chatbots that simulate celebrities without authorization, including sexual content. Remember the case of Ronaldo Nazário, whose voice was cloned in a fake video seen by 600,000 people before it was removed?

These cases don't represent AI failures - they represent human failings in the application of AI. And this is crucial to understanding the current moment.

The Institutionalization of AI: The Albanian Case That Changes Everything

While we're discussing the problems, Albania has done something revolutionary: appointed Diella, the world's first AI-generated minister, to supervise public tenders.

It's not science fiction - it's concrete political strategy. Diella has already helped issue tens of thousands of documents on the e-Albania platform, and her job is to ensure transparent and corruption-free processes.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is not joking: this is part of Albania's strategy to fight corruption and advance its bid to join the European Union. AI is no longer a corporate tool but a matter of state.

This marks a turning point. When governments start to institutionalize AI in this way, it means that the technology has moved out of the experimental phase and into the operational one.

The Content War: Why Rolling Stone sued Google

One of the most significant developments of the last 24 hours has been Penske Media (owner of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Variety) suing Google for improper use of journalistic content in AI summaries.

The numbers are impressive: Google's AI Overviews appear in around 20% of searches that would lead to Penske's sites, reducing revenue from affiliate links by more than a third.

Jay Penske, the company's CEO, was blunt: Google dominates 90% of the search market and is imposing practices that undermine the integrity of publications.

This case is emblematic because defines the economic limits of generative AI. It's not just about copyright - it's about the economic sustainability of journalism in a world where AI can synthesize content instantly.

In my consultancies, I always emphasize that the most powerful AI is the one that creates value for everyone involved in the chain. When a technology generates value by destroying the business model of those who create the original content, we have a systemic problem that needs to be solved.

The Brazilian Paradox: Leadership in Application, Challenges in Governance

Meanwhile, Brazil presents an interesting paradox. Google has launched AI Mode here, using the Gemini 2.5 model to revolutionize online searches. We are one of the first global markets to receive this technology.

At the same time, o Detran-SP uses AI to identify vehicles with more than a thousand fines - A Jetta has racked up an impressive 1,164 fines, 395 in the last 12 months alone.

These cases show that Brazil is at the forefront of the practical application of AI, in both the private and public sectors. But we still need to move forward in the discussion about governance and ethical boundaries.

The Moment of Maturity: Opportunities for Those Who Understand

Looking at all these developments together, I see three clear signs that AI is maturing:

1. Definition of practical use cases: Brazilian executives confirm that AI works best as an enhancement tool, not a replacement.

2. Setting limits: The warnings about AI as a therapist and the lawsuits about content use show where technology should not be applied without specific care.

3. Institutionalization: Albania's AI minister marks the transition of AI from technological experiment to state policy.

For entrepreneurs and business leaders, this creates a unique moment. AI has left the hype phase and entered the responsible application phase. Whoever manages to navigate between the opportunities and the limits will have a significant competitive advantage.

The Global Race and Brazil's Position

Speaking of competition, a report by TRG Datacenters reveals that the United States leads with 50% of global computing power in AI, with 39.7 million equivalent Nvidia H100 chips.

China, despite leading in the number of AI clusters (230), only ranks 7th in computing power due to US trade restrictions. Global investment in AI reaches US$ 200 billion by 2025 - a record that shows how much is at stake.

Brazil doesn't appear among the 10 superpowers, but that doesn't mean we're out of the race. Our advantage lies in creative application and adaptation to local needs, as we see in the cases of Detran, Gorilla and VOLL.

In my work with startups and companies, I notice that it's not who has the most computing power that wins - it's who solves real problems more efficiently.

Three Practical Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs

First lesson: Stop asking “will AI replace my team?” and start asking “how can AI enhance what my team already does well?”. The executives at Gorilla and VOLL understood this.

Lesson two: Set clear boundaries. If you're thinking of using AI for functions that involve critical decisions about health, safety or fundamental rights, have expert human supervision.

Third lesson: Think shared value. Rolling Stone's strategy against Google teaches us that sustainable AI is one that creates value for the entire chain, not just for those who control the technology.

The Future Has Arrived (And It's More Nuanced Than We Imagined)

The last 24 hours have shown us that the future of AI is not about mass replacement or magic solutions. It's about intelligent application, clear limits and distributed benefits.

Albania gave us a glimpse of how governments can use AI to improve public services. Brazil showed us how companies can use AI to empower professionals. Problematic use cases reminded us of the importance of human supervision.

For those who are building businesses or leading organizations, the message is clear: mature AI is not about technology - it's about responsible application that generates real value.

In my mentoring with executives and entrepreneurs, I help navigate exactly this transition: how to identify where AI adds value, establish appropriate governance, and build strategies that take advantage of technological maturity without falling into the traps of excessive enthusiasm or paralyzing fear.

Because if there's one thing that these developments make clear, it's that AI's moment has arrived - and it's much more interesting than any of us imagined.