This is the AI question that stops a boardroom cold (www.businessinsider.com)

A recent discussion led by Kevin Keenan from Reltio highlights a growing concern in boardrooms: despite significant investment in AI technologies, many enterprises are struggling to realize measurable returns. A study by MIT reveals that 95% of organizations report no ROI from AI, largely due to poor implementation and inadequate data strategies. The fundamental issue lies in the misalignment between bold AI ambitions and brittle data infrastructures, which often lead to stalled initiatives and increased customer dissatisfaction. The gap between excitement over Agentic AI's potential and organizations' readiness to leverage it underscores a crucial moment in the AI landscape. The article emphasizes that effective implementation of AI hinges on the quality of underlying data. Poorly managed, siloed data structures result in inconsistent and unreliable information, compromising AI's ability to deliver accurate insights. Companies that harness intelligent, context-rich data—rather than merely amassing data without a clear framework—are likely to thrive. With industry leaders already implementing robust data backbones to drive AI initiatives, success in this new era will depend on prioritizing data quality. Those who adapt quickly will shape the market, transitioning AI from an expensive experiment to a powerful tool for business transformation.