I recently read a post by the founder of ClickUp, warning that data wars are coming—and that enterprise AI is at risk of being boxed in by vendor politics. One line stuck with me: “The better answer is convergence: unifying workflows, data, and systems so AI can operate with full context.” “The better answer is convergence: unifying workflows, data, and systems so AI can operate with full context.” It’s easy to skim past that word—convergence—as just another tech buzzword. But it’s not. It’s a quiet revolution in how we think about intelligence, ownership, and control. convergence The Slack Example: When Doors Close The Slack Example: When Doors Close Salesforce recently limited how much of Slack’s real-time communication AI tools can access. It’s not just a technical change—it’s a signal. When vendors restrict access to the very conversations that shape decisions, they’re not just protecting IP. They’re controlling context. And without context, AI becomes: a chatbot with no memory a strategist with no map a brilliant mind trapped in a soundproof room a chatbot with no memory a strategist with no map a brilliant mind trapped in a soundproof room This decision likely reflects a different strategic lens: One that prioritizes brand clarity, ethical boundaries, and enterprise trust One that curates context intentionally, rather than opening every door by default One that prioritizes brand clarity, ethical boundaries, and enterprise trust One that curates context intentionally, rather than opening every door by default But even principled restrictions shape the terrain. They define what AI can see—and what it can’t. And in a world where context is intelligence, those boundaries matter. is What Convergence Really Means What Convergence Really Means Convergence isn’t just about integration. It’s about giving AI the full picture: Unified workflows, so it sees how decisions unfold Shared data, so it understands nuance Open systems, so it can move across tools Unified workflows, so it sees how decisions unfold Shared data, so it understands nuance Open systems, so it can move across tools It’s not a feature—it’s a philosophy. And it’s the difference between AI that reacts and AI that leads. Convergence isn’t just about what AI can do—it’s about what we’re willing to let it understand.