A new MIT report, covered by Fortune, reveals that while companies are rushing into generative AI, most pilots flop instead of delivering value.
Big Ideas
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95% of pilots fail – Only about 5% of pilots generate tangible profit or loss impact.
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Integration is the problem – These pilots fail because AI tools are static (“science projects”), don’t adapt, and don’t align with day-to-day workflows.
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Back-office wins – Big investments go into visible stuff like sales & marketing. But the biggest returns are coming from automating administrative, finance, risk & procurement functions.
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External partners succeed – In-house builds lag far behind specialised vendor solutions.
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AI success isn’t about launching pilots. It’s about solving one clear problem, embedding it deeply, and aligning it with how people actually work. Where would you start?
