# "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.**

## Act — or Risk Hearing:

"You are the weakest link. Goodbye." — Anne Robinson

Take our AI Readiness Survey to understand where your organisation stands: https://aistrategy.scoreapp.com

[You Can’t Harness the Power of AI and Transform a Business on the Cheap](/content/insights/ai-on-the-cheap/index.html)