Overview
- Most companies now pilot AI but few can scale it: 97% are experimenting, only 22% have a formal strategy and 20% make real-time decisions, with Asia-Pacific and Europe advancing faster than North America (Economist Impact/Kinaxis).
- Global usage has leapt to 78% of organizations, up from 55% a year earlier, underscoring AI’s shift from novelty to embedded operations (Stanford HAI Index 2025).
- Workforce preparation lags sharply: in Argentina just 5% of workers report employer-provided AI training and 95% say they received none, prompting many to self-train (Randstad).
- Industrial case studies report measurable returns, including up to 50% energy-cost reductions in WaterForce’s irrigation platform and five avoided shutdowns worth about $2 million at Nescafé’s Toluca plant.
- Regulators are targeting AI-washing, with U.S. SEC penalties and FTC actions alongside the EU AI Act, even as firms explore early agentic AI uses such as payment pilots described by Visa.