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Why the Lack of Return on AI Is Good News for Many Businesses

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Businesses are not doing a great job with AI right now.

Over the past year employees, executives, and stakeholders alike have all felt the pressure to leverage AI in pursuit of efficiency and innovation. Yet as we round out this first calendar quarter, businesses are still not doing well with this new technology at all.

At Optimal, we’ve spent decades helping executives navigate technological turning points. What we’re seeing with AI today looks a lot like the early days of the cloud: massive hype, uneven adoption, and enormous potential for those who take a methodical approach.

Leaders Say AI Matters, But Their Investments Say Otherwise

A few data points tell the story clearly:

  • 79% of leaders believe they must adopt AI to stay competitive.
  • Nearly the same percentage would hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced candidate without them.
  • Nearly half of U.S. executives aren’t investing in AI tools at all.
  • Only 22% of employees are aware their organization even has an AI strategy.

AI isn’t yet driving measurable business results because most organizations haven’t clarified their goals, policies, or expectations—and haven’t prepared their teams to use the right tools effectively.

 Here’s the Upside: You Are Not Behind

If you’ve been stressed about trailing behind your peers with AI adoption, take a breath—you’re likely overestimating their progress.

It’s true that 88% of organizations are, at minimum, experimenting with AI in some part of their business. It’s also true that 81% have no ROI to report at this stage. It follows that:

  • 94% of C-suite executives are not satisfied with their current AI solution
  • Only 1% would be comfortable characterizing their AI adoption as “mature.”

More often than not, using AI in the workplace does not equate to using AI well. This is how a methodical and results-oriented implementation can still manage to propel you to the head of the pack.

A Smarter Way to Start: Methodical AI Implementation

Optimal’s AI Foundations engagement was designed specifically for organizations in this moment of uncertainty. Over six months, our CIO Consultants help you:

  • Evaluate your readiness
  • Build a clear AI strategy and use policy
  • Train an internal taskforce
  • Run structured pilot programs
  • Roll out AI safely and effectively organization-wide
  • Identify 3–5 custom AI applications worth building

It’s intentional, controlled, and aligned to your business—not a race to adopt tools you don’t need.
If you want better outcomes, reduced risk, and a workforce that actually knows how to leverage AI, we’d love to help you get there.

AI ROI and Implementation

Why are most businesses struggling with AI adoption? ›
Because AI feels urgent but unclear. Many leaders value AI but haven’t yet defined goals, policies, or investments—leaving employees to adopt tools independently.
Why do only 1% of executives consider their AI use mature? ›
Because true maturity requires measurable outcomes—and most organizations are still in the experimentation phase without structured processes.
What should an organization do first when adopting AI? ›
Start with a readiness assessment and develop a strategic plan. This ensures alignment with goals, data hygiene, security requirements, and workforce needs.
How can AI help small and mid-sized organizations specifically? ›
AI can reduce administrative burden, improve quality, speed up workflows, and unlock insights—especially when applied consistently across key processes.
What is the benefit of a structured AI program like AI Foundations? ›
It provides a guided, low-risk path: clear strategy, trained employees, defined pilots, and high-impact use cases backed by technical and strategic oversight.

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