Technology & innovation
A new Harvard Business Review analysis of nearly 900 AI pilots finds that only a minority deliver meaningful returns. Those that succeed consistently align AI projects with business priorities, embed strong governance, and commit to scaling beyond the pilot phase.
Successful pilots align tightly with business priorities, not just technology experimentation.
They build on modular tooling and infrastructure that allows reuse and scaling.
Clear governance, metrics, and accountability are essential.
Strong leadership support and cross-functional teams improve outcomes.
High‑performing pilots move quickly from proof of concept to scaled deployment.
A test‑fast, learn‑fast mindset is central to success.
A remarkable 95% of Gen AI programs fail to deliver bottom-line returns … What’s different about the 5% that succeed?"
According to HBR, there are five behaviors or capabilities that "stand out in organizations that have achieved measurable returns from AI."
Strategic agility: "Prioritize options over rigid plans and proactively scan for disruption before it derails progress."
Human centricity: "Trust sets the speed limit for AI adoption."
Applied curiosity: "Combine systematic scanning with disciplined experimentation in an effort to figure out how best to learn and test effectively."
Performance drive: "Reject “pilot theater” in favor of ROI discipline and cross-functional scaling."
Ethical stewardship: "Build responsibility into AI from day one."
Leadership is critical:
Ensure the right people are leading AI efforts: Identify which roles are "most critical to your AI efforts" and make sure the "right leaders" are in those roles. According to HBR's survey of senior leaders, 47% "ranked leadership effectiveness as the single biggest driver of AI ROI."
Read more via Harvard Business Review
Google Cloud has launched a new "comprehensive AI platform" designed for businesses. Google's Gemini Enterprise is already being used by financial firm Klarna, Australia's Macquarie Bank, and cruise line Virgin Voyages, according to Google. Gemini Enterprise is designed to "create a singular agentic platform" that can "democratize the creation and use of AI-powered agents for automating complex workflows and boosting productivity across entire organizations." Gemini Enterprise will be priced at $30 per user, per month. (TechCrunch, AI News)
Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced Quick Suite, a "chatbot and set of AI agents that can analyze sales data, produce reports or summarize web content." Quick Suite offers integration with Salesforce as well as other data sources. Quick Suite offers two pricing options: Professional users can pay $20 per month to access Quick Suite's "key capabilities," while Enterprise users pay $40 per month to access the full range of capabilities, including "advanced functionality." (Bloomberg, Amazon)
Google has changed a policy that required employees to share personal data with an AI tool after employees complained.
According to Business Insider, employees looking to use the company's health benefits were told they would have to "allow an AI tool from Nayya to access their personal data."
After employee backlash ensued, Google shifted the policy and "now says staff can get benefits without opting in."
Prior to the change, employees who wanted health benefits were told they "must give access to AI-powered tools provided by Nayya, which offers personalized benefits recommendations."
Nayya is a third-party AI tool that “allows employees to input information about their health and lifestyle, and provides recommendations on benefits to choose.”
Read more via Business Insider
Private health insurers are reportedly already using AI to "approve or deny care". Now, the Trump administration is launching a pilot program to test the use of AI in prior authorization decisions by Medicare. The program is "designed to weed out wasteful, “low-value” services." Beginning January 1, the pilot will "affect Medicare patients, and the doctors and hospitals who care for them, in Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington." (NBC News)
New York state is launching an AI training pilot program for the state's workforce. The pilot training program has been "specifically designed to teach NYS employees about responsible AI use as a public-sector employee." Participants will include a "diverse group of volunteer users" from across a range of state agencies. (CBS6 Albany)
