Why Isn’t AI Working?

Wasn’t AI supposed to make our lives easier?

A promised, golden future?

Isn’t that why companies are pouring money into it?

Here are a few headlines about AI’s current results:

Over 80% of companies report no productivity gains from AI, Tom’s Hardware.

Nearly 6,000 Execs Confess: AI’s $250B Black Hole = Zero Productivity Increase, Yahoo Finance.

Despite massive AI push, over 90% firms see no impact on jobs or output, The Economic Times.

You can find all kinds of headlines and articles with similar findings for ‘ai productivity results.’

Where’s the boon we’ve been promised?

Wasn’t AI supposed to write code for us and solve the dreaded customer service role?

It feels like companies are flushing money down the toilet—along with the water used to do so.

Maybe it will be the dream it’s been made out to be one day, but that day isn’t here yet.

Right now, it might feel like companies are buying and investing in AI like many parents did with Beanie Babies. (Those did appreciate, right?!)

It’s as if companies have forgotten Bill Gates’ second rule of technology:

“Automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”

For now, AI isn’t much more than a high-tech predictor.

It can write what the likely outcome will be based on millions (or even ‘billions and billions’) data points.

But it can’t think.

What are you hoping AI will do for your company?

How are you applying it?

If you’re hoping for wildly successful results without first understanding what you’re applying it to, that could be part of the issue.

So, what can you do?

Start with a process you know.

Find a well-defined A – through – Z process.

Apply automation to things that are known and repeatable.

Maybe we’ll get the magic bullet one day, but until then, try this method.

Those that know how to use AI to automate already efficient systems will get the results everyone else is looking for.

Gates’ “first rule of any technology used in business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency.”

You’ve hired smart, critically thinking individuals to do the fantastic work your company produces.

Trust them when they tell you things will or won’t work.

Be curious and ask questions.

When you do this, you’ll lead people who embrace change and do more than say, “How high?” when you ask them to jump on the latest technology fad—even if it is a precursor to the future.

Do this, and you won’t be flushing money down the toilet.

The Healthy Company Framework helps you develop the tools you need to do this in your company! Contact us at Company Connections today and learn more about how we can help you embrace change and prepare for the future.

Don’t flush your money down the toilet! Apply automation to efficient processes.