Organizations that invest the most in AI often capture the least value from it. That paradox is driving a growing debate about whether AI delivers value. But that’s the wrong debate. At the task level, the evidence is clear with studies consistently showing measurable productivity gains in coding, writing, analysis, and customer support. MIT researchers have found that 95% of AI pilots fail to generate measurable P&L impact at the pilot stage. McKinsey also reports only the high performers, about 6% of respondents, attribute 5% or more of EBIT to AI. And BCG estimates that roughly 60% of AI transformation efforts deliver limited or no material value. The pattern is consistent: pilots succeed locally, but value rarely scales systemically.

Full opinion : Task-level productivity gains are real and proven, so why does value disappear before it reaches the bottom line? Here’s what it takes to capture it.