How to Scale AI Beyond Pilot Projects

“We spent millions on AI and have nothing to show for it.” That’s what the CEO told me. And they weren’t wrong… The results were underwhelming. Deadlines kept slipping. The board was asking tough questions. But instead of agreeing to pull the plug, I said something that surprised them: "Before you give up, let's take three steps back." I emphasized that AI can deliver exceptional outcomes, but only when you're rooted in what's actually achievable. Here's what I mean: STEP ONE: Know exactly what you're dealing with - The current state of your data quality - How prepared your infrastructure really is - What capabilities your team actually possesses STEP TWO: Balance your aspirational AI goals (what could be possible) with the reality of what you can deliver today (what is practical). Success in AI comes from marrying honest evaluation with executable strategy. So that’s exactly what we did: we stepped back, rethought the goal, and simplified the approach. We kept their ambitious vision but completely changed the execution: → Redefined success metrics to be measurable and achievable. → Broke their "moonshot" goal into 6 smaller milestones. → Started with one use case in a smaller capacity that could demonstrate clear ROI Six weeks later, they had their first AI success story. Not the revolutionary transformation they originally envisioned, but something better: proof that AI could work in their environment. - That early win gave the team confidence.  - The board renewed their commitment.  - And now they're scaling systematically. So the lesson here isn't about scaling back your vision. It's about finding the right path forward. Sometimes that means starting smaller to eventually go bigger. Big AI transformations don't happen overnight. They happen when you break them into manageable pieces and prove value incrementally. Start practical. Then scale ambitious. Have you ever had to shift from moonshot thinking to practical execution in AI? How did it go?

Harvard + AI = MAS Inspiration for Inclusive Innovation. “The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed yet”. William Gibson In an era where AI is reshaping landscapes, my participation in the YPO Harvard Business School Presidents Program marks a “singular moment” of inspiration and challenge. Engaging with the brilliant minds at Harvard alongside successful YPO CEOs and entrepreneurs from over 40 countries has been an unparalleled experience. It has deepened my commitment to harnessing AI to elevate underserved communities in tech, and to ensure we are providing thought lesdership and guidance to our clients as they discover the gamechanging possibilities for their businesses. Plenty of material to read, including Karim Lakhani’s book: “Competing in the Age of AI” I will be reflecting on and implementing key takeaways from this rich experience, sharing some with you: + Curiosity and knowing is not doing. There is a gap between knowing the huge impact and benefits of AI, and taking action + Success in AI implementation is 70% mindset + Access to abundant, high-quality data is crucial, requiring both domain expertise and technical skills + The methods of data collection, labeling, and model training are critical for minimizing bias and ensuring the desired outcomes. Algorithms are Important but the key is in the data + Scaling AI efforts requires an 'AI Factory' approach, demanding tight collaboration among various experts, including data labelers, data scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, MLOps, etc. + Not all challenges are suited for AI solutions. It's wise to establish a strong business case, define key success metrics, and develop POCs/MVPs before scaling up and using a big-bang approach + Never underestimate the impact of leadership imprint on an organization's structure, values, and culture. Is your organization primed for innovation? + AI presents opportunities and risks alike, from governance to its impact on humanity. Every decision is crucial #AI #responsibleleadership #Harvard #lifelonglearning #MASTechforAll MAS Global Consulting