Blog Posts

Belén Garijo Reflects on 1,000 Days of AI: The Journey and What’s Next

Belén Garijo/LinkedIn

Aug 26, 2025, 15:24

Belén Garijo Reflects on 1,000 Days of AI: The Journey and What’s Next

Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“1,000 days ago, AI announced its arrival to our world with the launch of ChatGPT.

At that time, few could have anticipated how pivotal this moment would be.
It reached 10 million users in ten days and more than 100 million in 100 days.

Today, on day 1,000, AI chat tools will handle more than a billion queries worldwide.

And the technology has scaled so fast that now, ChatGPT can create cat movies so convincing you can’t tell real from fake (it’s both amazing and a little unsettling).

AI is the perfect example of exponential growth in action. Here’s the thing about exponential curves: they look flat until they go vertical.

If you weren’t on board in those first 100 days, catching up now is harder. But you must try.

Because AI is not hype. It’s the fastest and most profound shift in how society works in over a century. The biggest risk is standing still while others learn how to use AI better and faster.

At Merck Group, we didn’t wait for the curve to go vertical. We were ready from day one. I’m proud of what our team has accomplished since:

•    Built myGPT@Merck and then MyGPTSuite before most companies had a plan.
•    Embedded AI and data across our entire digital backbone.
•    Created AI-powered platforms to accelerate how we discover, develop, and manufacture medicines, materials, and more.
•    Partnered with many leading players in AI.
•    Most importantly, we gave our people the skills and tools to embrace AI and unlock their creativity.

Merck is ready for what comes next. We’re committed to using AI ethically and purposefully as a force for good and an accelerant for growth.

Personally, thanks to my own curiosity and learning journey, I feel ready too.

Here’s what I’m most looking forward to over the next 1,000 days:

•    AI as your creative partner: freeing time for ideas only humans can imagine.
•    Virtual tools that anticipate your needs: so you can focus on strategy and creative work.
•    Project cycles collapsing from weeks to minutes: giving you back the most valuable resource—time.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What are your plans for the next 1,000 days of AI?”

Proceed to the video attached to the post.

More posts featuring Belén Garijo on OncoDaily.