Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, a recent Management Today article reports that over 80% of global businesses have seen no significant bottom-line impact from deploying AI technologies.
The article explores why many AI pilot projects are falling short and what the future may hold, particularly with the emergence of agentic AI (autonomous artificial intelligence, capable of making decisions with its own agency), which promises more independent and scalable systems.
For the piece, Dr Bart Vanneste, Associate Professor in the Strategy & Entrepreneurship group, offers valuable insight into the challenges of integrating generative AI into real-world business processes, saying:
“Companies are still learning where generative AI truly augments business processes versus where it creates complexity without clear returns. Over time, as best practices and integration approach maturity, the success rate should rise.
“Implementing AI at scale is rarely straightforward. It’s not just about the technology, it’s about people, processes and change management. Many of the areas where generative AI looks attractive involve unstructured tasks. While humans handle such ambiguity well, codifying it into scalable systems is significantly harder.”
The article suggests that while current AI tools may offer modest productivity gains, the next wave (agentic AI) could unlock entirely new revenue streams and reshape organisational structures.
Vanneste’s inclusion in the piece reflects the UCL School of Management’s growing influence in conversations surrounding AI implementation and strategy.
