Introduction
According to MIT’s new report, The GenAI Divide: State of AI in Business 2025, based on 150 leadership interviews, a survey of 350 employees, and an analysis of 300 public AI deployments, 95 percent of enterprise AI pilots are failing. Recent McKinsey research shows nearly 8 in 10 companies are experimenting with generative AI. The problem? Just as many admit they have seen no significant impact on the bottom line.
IDC, a technology research firm, says business spending on generative AI will jump 94 percent this year, hitting 61.9 billion dollars. Yet S&P Global found that 42 percent of companies abandoned most of their AI pilot projects by the end of 2024, more than double the 17 percent that pulled the plug the year before. The failures stem not from the technology itself, but from poor workflow integration, organizational misalignment, and unrealistic expectations. Human factors like employee and customer resistance or lack of skills also play a big role.
If the biggest companies with endless resources are struggling with this, you can bet it’s showing up in your world too. Maybe you see it, maybe you don’t. That’s exactly why I wrote this book and why I’m putting it in your hands.
This is the reality most leaders do not want to admit. They sit in meetings nodding at slide decks, but underneath, they know something is wrong. They see money leaving the company, projects stalling, and employees confused about what the tools are for. They sense the gap between promise and reality, yet they do not have a clear map forward.
The truth is that AI is not failing. Leadership is. The technology does what it is designed to do. What it cannot do is give direction, build trust, or align people. That is your job. AI does not create culture. You do. AI does not define purpose. You do. AI does not empower people to rise above fear. You do.
This book is not about chasing the latest model or buying another system. It is about leadership in a time when everything is shifting. It is about seven steps that will help you bring clarity where others spread confusion. These steps are not abstract. They are practical. Define the why. Build the right foundation. Create AI native workflows. Empower your teams. Lead with transparency. Measure what matters. Adapt in real time. These are the moves that turn AI from a cost into a catalyst.
You are not reading this book because you want another trend report. You are reading this because you know the ground is moving under your business and you cannot afford to stand still. You are reading this because you see the hype, feel the pressure, and want to lead with confidence instead of guessing. You are reading this because you understand that the future will not wait.
At the end of every chapter, I give you three clear action steps designed to help you and your team level up. Many of these steps aren’t locked to a single topic, so you can adapt them and move between the seven steps throughout the book in whatever way serves you best.
AI is here. The numbers show that most companies are stumbling. That is not a reason to hesitate. It is a reason to lead differently. Those who take these seven steps will move their companies forward with speed and strength. Those who do not will look back in a few years wondering how they missed their chance.
This is your wake-up call. The question is not whether you will act. The question is how.
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