95% of AI pilots fail to deliver meaningful efficiency: TCS CEO
The world of artificial intelligence (AI) has been abuzz with excitement and promise, with many enterprises investing heavily in AI pilots to boost efficiency and drive growth. However, according to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO K Krithivasan, a staggering 95% of these AI pilots have failed to deliver measurable value. This startling revelation was made by Krithivasan, citing research, and highlights the challenges that many organizations face in harnessing the power of AI to drive meaningful change.
In a recent statement, Krithivasan noted, “As we look ahead to 2026, a clearer picture of AI’s impact is emerging.” He added, “We are witnessing…a new form of organisational intelligence, where combinations of humans and machines shape how choices are developed, presented and discussed.” This statement suggests that while AI has the potential to revolutionize the way organizations operate, its impact is still being felt, and its true potential is yet to be fully realized.
The fact that 95% of AI pilots have failed to deliver meaningful efficiency is a sobering reminder of the complexities involved in implementing AI solutions. Many organizations have invested significant time, money, and resources into AI pilots, only to find that they have not yielded the desired results. This can be attributed to a variety of factors, including inadequate data, insufficient training, and a lack of clear goals and objectives.
So, what can organizations do to ensure that their AI pilots are successful? According to Krithivasan, there are five core principles that can help organizations unlock the true potential of AI. These principles include:
- Defining clear goals and objectives: Before embarking on an AI pilot, it is essential to define clear goals and objectives. What do you want to achieve through AI? What problems do you want to solve? Having a clear understanding of what you want to achieve will help you focus your efforts and ensure that your AI pilot is aligned with your overall business strategy.
- Ensuring adequate data: AI requires high-quality data to function effectively. Ensuring that you have adequate data, and that it is accurate and relevant, is critical to the success of your AI pilot.
- Providing sufficient training: AI models require significant training to learn and improve. Providing sufficient training data, and ensuring that your AI models are trained on a diverse range of data, is essential to ensure that they are accurate and effective.
- Fostering collaboration between humans and machines: AI is not a replacement for human intelligence, but rather a complement to it. Fostering collaboration between humans and machines is critical to ensure that AI is used effectively, and that its potential is fully realized.
- Continuously monitoring and evaluating: Finally, it is essential to continuously monitor and evaluate your AI pilot to ensure that it is meeting its intended goals and objectives. This involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and making adjustments as needed to ensure that your AI pilot is on track.
By following these five core principles, organizations can increase the chances of success for their AI pilots, and unlock the true potential of AI to drive meaningful efficiency and growth.
In conclusion, while the fact that 95% of AI pilots have failed to deliver meaningful efficiency is a sobering reminder of the challenges involved in implementing AI solutions, it is not a reason to give up on AI altogether. With the right approach, and a clear understanding of the principles that underpin successful AI implementation, organizations can harness the power of AI to drive meaningful change and growth.
As Krithivasan noted, “We are witnessing…a new form of organisational intelligence, where combinations of humans and machines shape how choices are developed, presented and discussed.” This new form of organizational intelligence has the potential to revolutionize the way organizations operate, and it is up to organizations to seize this opportunity and unlock the true potential of AI.