MIT’s latest report, The State of AI in Business 2025, has sparked global debate with a bold finding: despite $30–40Bn in enterprise spending on Generative AI, a staggering 95% of organisations are seeing zero return.

Only 5% of AI initiatives are delivering measurable P&L impact.

With AI, Robotics, and Data dominating business agendas in the UK, EU, and US, the question is: why are so many organisations failing to translate ambition into results, and how can they turn things around?

 

Why AI Initiatives Fail

In our conversations with clients across industries, we see three recurring issues:

  • Inertia: Too many departments cling to outdated processes, even when automation or AI would save time and money. Change is uncomfortable, so they avoid it.
  • Silos: AI projects often sit deep within IT without alignment to business strategy. When rolled out, they miss the mark and fail to inspire confidence.
  • Bureaucracy: Large enterprises move slowly. Projects get bogged down in politics, and momentum is lost before impact can be measured.

The result? AI initiatives that burn budget but fail to shift the dial.

 

What Works Instead

The MIT report also highlights three success factors that align with what we see working in practice:

  • Target specific business outcomes with hard ROI
  • Work to a clear and realistic timeline
  • Start small, leverage existing tools and scale with proof of success

When businesses follow these principles, AI projects become measurable, meaningful, and scalable.

 

The Missing Piece: Talent

Even with the right approach, no AI initiative succeeds without the right people driving it forward. That’s where Maxwell Bond’s AI, Robotics & Data division comes in.

We partner with businesses across the UK, EU, and US to connect them with senior leaders, engineers, and data specialists who know how to cut through silos, build business-aligned strategies, and deliver real ROI.

From AI Engineers, Robotics Specialists, and Data Scientists through to Chief Data Officers and Directors of AI, we find the talent that transforms investment into impact.

 

Ready to Build AI That Delivers?

The world of AI, Robotics, and Data is moving fast, but the companies seeing results are those with the right leadership and technical expertise in place.

Whether you’re a business looking to hire the talent to make your AI projects succeed, or a candidate ready to take your next step in this exciting space, Maxwell Bond is here to help.

👉 Get in touch with our AI, Robotics & Data team today to start building projects that deliver measurable impact.