A striking statistic emerges from the "State of AI in Business 2025" report by MIT and Nanda: despite billions invested in AI, a staggering 95% of organizations are getting zero return from their artificial intelligence initiatives. This phenomenon, which the report's authors call the "GenAI Divide," splits companies into two opposing camps: a small 5% group extracting millions in value and the vast majority left struggling for meaningful results.
The Problem: Adoption Without Transformation
The adoption of general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot is high—over 80% of companies have explored or piloted them. However, the research reveals that these tools, while boosting individual productivity, are not driving true business model transformation. The real gap becomes evident with custom enterprise AI solutions, as only 5% of these pilot projects successfully reach the production stage.
The study identifies a central reason for this failure: the "learning gap." The main barrier is not a lack of talent or infrastructure, but the fact that most AI systems are not designed to retain feedback, adapt to context, or improve over time. Users, accustomed to the flexibility of tools like ChatGPT, are skeptical of enterprise solutions they describe as "static" or "too rigid.".
The Key to Success: Focusing on Real Value
The 5% of successful companies approach AI differently. Instead of treating it as a generic software product, they view it as a strategic partnership. These organizations:
- Demand Deep Customization: They seek tools that integrate directly and adapt to their specific workflows.
- Evaluate by Business Outcomes: They measure success based on real operational metrics and ROI, not just standard software benchmarks.
Interestingly, the study also highlights a budget misalignment: approximately 70% of AI investments are directed toward sales and marketing, while the highest ROI is often found in automating "back-office" functions (such as operations, finance, and procurement). These less visible projects offer a faster return and more significant savings by reducing expenses on external agencies and outsourced services.
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We Want to Hear Your Insights to Build Peru's First AI Snapshot
What is your take on this? We would love to know if your company is in the 5% that generates AI value or in the 95% that is still seeking a return. Please answer our brief and anonymous survey below to help us better understand the artificial intelligence landscape in Peru.
https://www.innovatbs.com/survey/start/3fc0e178-da1e-4342-b79d-697977663724
Your participation is crucial! We will share the results of this survey in a follow-up article, allowing all of us to gain a clearer vision of the state of AI in our country.
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Help Us Reach More Leaders and Colleagues
Do you believe this topic is relevant to other leaders and colleagues in Peru? Please share this article with them on your social media networks. By doing so, you will help us gather a broader, more representative sample, making our future "snapshot" much more accurate and valuable for the entire community. Together, we can build a complete picture of artificial intelligence in the country!
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Source: Challapally, A., Pease, C., Raskar, R., & Chari, P. (2025). The ROI of AI: Why the 95% of AI Initiatives Fail to Drive Business Value. MIT Sloan School of Management & Nanda.
