Something fundamental shifted in late 2022.
For decades, economic growth and job creation moved in lockstep. When companies grew, they hired. When the market climbed, so did job openings. It was economics 101.
Then ChatGPT launched. And the relationship broke.
Job Openings vs S&P 500: The lines tracked together for decades, then diverged dramatically after ChatGPT's launch
Look at the chart above. The blue line (S&P 500) and red line (job openings) tracked each other for over two decades. After November 2022—marked by that vertical dashed line—they diverge dramatically. The market continues its climb. Job openings plummet.
This is the Great Decoupling.
What's Actually Happening
Enterprises figured it out first. AI doesn't just make workers more productive—it fundamentally changes how many people you need to grow. Tasks that required teams now require tools. Processes that demanded headcount now demand compute.
The math is simple: if AI can handle 30% of a role's tasks, you don't need to hire as many people to scale. And that percentage is climbing every quarter.
Fortune 500 companies are already reaping the benefits. They have the budgets for AI consultants, the engineering teams to build custom solutions, and the scale to justify massive investments.
The SMB Problem
Here's what keeps us up at night at Strongly.AI: small and medium businesses are getting left behind.
While enterprises deploy AI across every function, most SMBs are stuck wondering where to even start. They're competing against companies that can now do more with less—and they don't have access to the same tools.
This isn't just unfair. It's an existential threat.
Our Mission
Strongly.AI exists for one reason: to democratize the AI advantage.
We believe the productivity gains from AI shouldn't be reserved for companies with seven-figure tech budgets. The local marketing agency, the growing e-commerce brand, the 50-person manufacturer—they deserve the same leverage.
We're building the tools, training, and implementation support that make AI accessible to businesses that can't afford to wait and can't afford to hire a team of AI engineers.
The Window Is Now
The gap between AI adopters and everyone else is widening every month. Companies that move now will compound their advantage. Those that wait will find themselves competing against rivals who can operate at twice the efficiency with half the headcount.
The Great Decoupling isn't coming. It's here.
The only question is which side of it you'll be on.
Ready to Bring AI Into Your Business?
Let's talk about how Strongly.AI can help you compete in the new economy.
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