Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé, is emphasizing the importance of understanding artificial intelligence (AI) beyond simply being able to write good prompts. In an interview with Business Insider, Navratil stressed that employees need to understand their business and adapt the way they work to stay competitive in an environment that is rapidly changing due to AI.
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Nestlé, with over 270,000 employees worldwide, doesn’t expect its staff to become experts in the technical side of AI. Instead, Navratil wants employees to understand how AI can be applied, what its future potential is, and what it means for the company. AI is not just a tool, but an opportunity to redesign work processes to increase efficiency and innovation.
Adding AI to existing routines can complicate work rather than simplify it, Navratil warns. To avoid this, employees need to re-examine their processes and eliminate steps that are no longer necessary. The time saved can be used to analyze data and improve relationships with business partners.
Navratil's focus is on how the work is designed, rather than any specific software.
Navratil's career at Nestlé began in 2001 as an internal auditor and later took over the management of the Nespresso business. He became CEO on September 1, 2025, after Laurent Freixe for an undeclared relationship with a direct subordinate. Shortly after taking office, Nestlé announced plans to cut about 16,000 jobs over two years, with about 12,000 of those in office jobs and about 4,000 in manufacturing and supply chain.
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Process automation is part of Nestlé's strategic plan, aiming to save 3 billion Swiss francs by the end of 2027. "The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster," said Navratil, underlining the need to adapt faster to new technologies.
Nestlé is already using AI tools extensively, with around 100,000 employees using Microsoft Copilot every month, according to CIO Chris Wright. This shows the company’s commitment to integrating AI into its daily operations, improving efficiency and innovation.
Other business leaders have expressed similar views. Miro CEO Andrey Khusid argued that companies need to redesign work around AI, rather than simply adding it to existing teams. This approach can lead to more efficient and agile business practices.
However, AI training remains limited. A survey by TU Darmstadt University in Germany found that only 15% of respondents had received any training in AI. This highlights the need for more education and training so that workers can fully utilize the potential of AI.
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Nestlé, as a global leader in food and beverage, is at a critical juncture. Integrating AI into its business processes is not just a technological upgrade, but a strategic move that could define the company’s future. Under Navratil’s leadership, Nestlé seeks to adapt to new conditions and remain at the forefront of innovation, maintaining its leading position in the global market.
