AI Pilots: Cheap Tricks or Real Value?

The AI Theater Epidemic 

Step into any boardroom today and you’ll see it: the “AI theater.” Demos, slides, and buzzwords—everyone’s got an AI use case to show off. But for all the hype, most pilots end up as expensive side shows instead of business blockbusters. Strategy teams, it’s time to get cynical about the parade of AI projects and start asking: where’s the real value? 

Prioritization and Impact 

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: use cases are cheap. Anyone can whip up a chatbot or automate a process. The hard part is turning those experiments into measurable business impact. That’s where prioritization matrices and impact scoring come in. Before launching another pilot, ask: 

A use case that doesn’t move the needle on profit, cost, or customer experience is just more theater. 

KPI Dashboards, ROI Calculators 

The Cost of Misalignment 

When AI solves irrelevant problems, the only thing growing is the IT budget. 

Key Aspects: Benefits and Risks 

Kill the Pilot, Build the Roadmap 

Enough with the pilots. Build a strategic roadmap, align projects to business value, and demand accountability. It’s time to stop applauding AI theater and start producing results. 

AI use cases are everywhere, but real business value is rare. Strategy teams must move past pilots, demand ROI, and build a roadmap rooted in impact, not hype. The future belongs to those who make AI work for the bottom line.