A sold-out office. Zero sugar-coating. And a very honest look at the corporate version of a "hangover."
In Feb 2026, we opened the HelloDigital office for a session that felt less like a tech talk and more like a reality check. We were thrilled to host Malcolm Bunge (Principal Designer at McKinsey) for our MeetUp. A massive thank you to Malcolm for the wake-up call and to everyone who packed the room with such high-intensity energy. If you weren't there, you missed a deep dive into why the industry is currently struggling to move past the noise.
The Reality of AI Experiments
Let’s be honest: the honeymoon phase is over. Most AI experiments are currently stuck in what experts call the "Trough of Disillusionment." The expensive party is winding down, the initial C-suite excitement is meeting reality, and leadership is left wondering why the promised productivity boost hasn't reached the actual teams yet.
The problem? It isn't the code. It’s the human barrier.
Malcolm’s talk was a masterclass in understanding the friction that happens when AI meets a real, messy workflow. He didn’t just talk about tools, he challenged the way we think about adoption, leadership accountability, and the psychological resistance that surfaces when technology is forced from the top down.
Stop Counting Tools, Start Building Habits
At HelloDigital, we believe that Capability > Dependency. Malcolm’s guest appearance provided a powerful external perspective on this mindset, as he explored why most organizations are failing to turn digital potential into an everyday habit.
Why do some teams thrive while others quietly sabotage new tools? Why does the gap between leadership's expectations and the team's reality keep widening? Malcolm didn't just point out the flaws, he provided a strategic framework for bridges that actually hold. From the "IKEA effect" in product design to the real timeline of habit formation, the insights shared were a tactical playbook for anyone tired of running pilots that never land.
We aren't going to summarize the solution here. The nuances of Malcolm's checklist and his "habit-stacking" approach are best heard directly from him. Watch the full session below to see why your AI strategy is actually a human strategy.
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