One of the most concerning reports on AI this year: only 5% of AI pilots succeed. So, the real question is, which industries have cracked the code, and how can you drive adoption in your organisation?
I recently tackled this exact question at the Journalism UK Newsrewired event in front of a room full of sceptical journalists during an Ask Me Anything session.
You can watch my full reply above, but here’s what stood out:
‼️ The Four Barriers Holding AI Back
After working with countless organisations, four consistent roadblocks emerge: a lack of training, limited budgets for AI tools, messy data, and inflexible processes that have never been questioned.
Yet these aren’t insurmountable. The difference between successful and struggling organisations? Nimbleness and genuine openness to change, starting from top leadership.
Financial services have leveraged AI for years, yet regulatory hurdles still persist. Meanwhile, educational institutions often struggle simply because they’ve done things the same way for decades. The barrier isn’t always technology. It’s mindset.
💡 The Creative Solution That Changes Everything
Here’s where it gets interesting. I’ve watched organisations transform tedious compliance documents into engaging podcasts using Google’s NotebookLM tool, making dense content accessible for different learning styles.
The result? Higher adoption rates and genuinely engaged employees who actually want to use the tools.
That’s the power of reimagining how we work, not just introducing new tools.
🎯 The Bottom Line
Successful AI adoption starts with one thing: leadership willing to challenge the status quo. And here’s the surprising bit, the biggest sceptics often become the biggest champions once they see the benefits first-hand.
The advice I give every leader is simple. Become digitally curious. Have that “A-Ha!” moment that sparks your own adoption and that of your entire firm.
So … what’s holding your organisation back from embracing AI?
Hire me for your 2026 kickoff, and I’ll set you on the path to be in the 5% to make AI work for you.
