"We’re Not Doing Enough with AI” — So Where’s the Weakest Link?

AI Won’t Wait — Can Your Leadership Keep Up?

A recurring theme emerged from a recent workshop co-hosted by Informed AI:

“Businesses are not doing enough with artificial intelligence.”

Our founder, Professor Andy Pardoe, hears this time and again from leaders across industries. And from our vantage point, one truth stands out:

The weakest link isn’t technology — it’s leadership.

Bold? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.

Why Leaders Are Struggling

There are understandable reasons for hesitation:

Uncertainty about where to begin without disrupting operations
Limited understanding of the AI revolution reshaping every sector
Few real-world use cases to emulate
No clear playbook to follow
Reliance on traditional, top-down management models that no longer serve in a fast-moving, tech-driven world

The core issue? Leaders often lack a clear vision. Without it, starting an AI transformation is nearly impossible. Off-the-shelf tools and plug-and-play co-pilots rarely deliver long-term value.

The real opportunity lies in building custom AI use cases aligned with your strategy. Waiting is not a strategy — it’s falling behind. And today, the cost of hesitation has never been higher.

AI Must Be a Leadership Priority

If AI isn’t at the top of your agenda, it needs to be — now.

This isn’t about growth alone. It’s about survival. Ignore AI, and you risk losing:

Market share
Customer loyalty
Industry relevance

AI-native startups are already moving faster, cutting costs, delivering better products, and offering superior experiences. Leadership cannot afford to react — it must proactively shape the future.

From Man vs. Machine → Man with Machine

The leadership challenge has evolved: it’s no longer man versus machine — it’s man with machine.

Success now comes from agile, innovative cultures where people are empowered to harness AI — developing skills, confidence, and creativity.

Take inspiration from the All Blacks:

“Change your game, even when you’re at the top of your game. Look after your people — because better people make better All Blacks.”

Yet we still hear the same excuses:

“I’m too busy.”
“There’s no budget.”

Reactive thinking won’t cut it. AI requires strategic, proactive leadership.

Dispelling the Myths

Some common misconceptions hold leaders back:

Using ChatGPT or other off-the-shelf co-pilots does not make you AI-enabled
AI transformation is not just the CTO or IT’s responsibility — it begins and ends with the CEO and board
Most IT teams, while enthusiastic, lack the mandate or vision for enterprise-wide transformation
Many AI agents today are interfaces to large language models — helpful for information, but not yet drivers of decision-making

From Experimentation to Execution

The next frontier is scaled implementation. AI must be embedded into core business functions: finance, procurement, compliance, operations.

A recent MIT report revealed:

60% of generative AI’s value comes from improving internal workflows
Yet only 20% of AI investments are directed there

The result? A self-fulfilling cycle of underperformance.

At Informed AI, we help break that cycle:

Tailoring AI agents to your operations
Building reliable data pipelines
Implementing governance frameworks
Developing practical, results-driven use cases

The technology is ready. The moment is now.

Practical Advice: Start Where It Works

As Professor Pardoe puts it:

“If version 1 of an LLM agent works to an acceptable level, you don’t always need to upgrade. IT providers might push for the latest version, but if it works, it works — until it doesn’t.”

Focus on value, not perfection.