AI adoption stalls as companies struggle to scale projects despite strong returns, study shows

Only 13% of companies were on track with their AI initiatives, as regulatory ​hurdles and integration with legacy IT systems ‌slowed large-scale adoption, a BearingPoint study found.

Nearly three-quarters of companies surveyed reported positive financial results from ​AI but less than a third could ​move beyond pilot projects, the consultancy firm ⁠said on Thursday.

• “AI has crossed an important ​threshold,” said BearingPoint expert Frederic Gigant, and ​added that proving value and scaling it were two different things
• About 40% of respondents cited legal regulations as ​the main barrier to scaling AI, while ​34% pointed to challenges integrating the new technology into ‌existing ⁠IT systems
• Around 24% of companies reported AI-driven cost savings of at least 10%, compared with just 4% reporting revenue growth of the ​same scale
• Nearly ​two-thirds of ⁠companies estimated excess staffing levels of at least 10%
• China and the ​US lead AI adoption, with 20% ​and ⁠18% of companies reporting comprehensive implementation, versus 8% in Germany
• The share of companies with AI deeply ⁠integrated ​into operations rose to ​11% in 2026 from 7% in 2025

Source : Reuters