Profit-Sharing as a Catalyst: How One CEO Turned AI Skepticism into a Productivity Boom
This narrative is based on an interview with Ran Grushkowsky, co-founder and CEO of Las Vegas-based payments processor MassPay. It has been edited for clarity and context.
LAS VEGAS — For many businesses, the promise of artificial intelligence is tempered by a stubborn reality: employee reluctance. Ran Grushkowsky, CEO of payments company MassPay, encountered this firsthand. "Until mid-2025, there was a palpable wariness," Grushkowsky recalls. "The fear wasn't just about complexity; it was existential—a concern that AI was a precursor to job replacement."
The breakthrough came not from a top-down mandate, but from a fundamental realignment of incentives. A year ago, MassPay introduced a profit-sharing program with a clear, dual mandate: increase revenue and, more critically, drive down operational costs. The key stipulation? AI-driven efficiencies would directly feed the pool of profits to be shared.
"The concept is straightforward," Grushkowsky explains. "After accounting for operational and growth capital, surplus profits are allocated to the pool." Employee shares are calculated pro-rata based on salary. For instance, an employee earning $100,000 where the total eligible payroll is $2 million would claim 5% of the pool. In 2025, distributions averaged 18% of annual salary; projections for 2026 approach 50%.
The impact on operations has been tangible. A client onboarding process that once consumed a week for document review now concludes within 24 hours, powered by AI analysis of incorporation papers and compliance manuals. This surge in productivity led MassPay to cancel plans for five new hires in 2025. "We're not replacing people; we're augmenting them," Grushkowsky emphasizes. "The program helped employees discover new 'superpowers,' allowing them to achieve more than before."
Industry analysts note that MassPay's approach tackles a core challenge in the digital transformation era. "Linking AI adoption directly to tangible employee benefit is a powerful way to overcome inertia and fear," says Dr. Lena Chen, a workplace technology consultant. "It transforms AI from a perceived threat into a collaborative tool for shared success."
Voices from the Industry:
"This is a masterclass in change management. Grushkowsky didn't just introduce a tool; he redesigned the incentive structure to make adoption the rational, rewarding choice for every team member."
— Michael Thorne, HR Director at a FinTech rival
"Color me skeptical. This feels like a sugar-coated productivity push. Sharing 'profits' from cost-cutting mostly fueled by AI? It's a clever way to get employees to automate parts of their own roles, potentially making those roles redundant in the long run. The morale boost might be temporary."
— Sarah J. Miller, Tech Ethics Analyst (sharper, more critical tone)
"The 50% projection is staggering. It proves that when employees have skin in the game, their engagement with new technology isn't just compliance—it's innovation. This could be a blueprint for mid-sized firms struggling with tech integration."
— David Park, Founder of a SaaS startup
As businesses nationwide grapple with how to harness AI effectively, MassPay's experiment suggests that the answer may lie less in the sophistication of the technology itself and more in the architecture of human motivation.
Read the original article on Business Insider.