Why Most Companies Are Getting AI Strategy Wrong: It's Time to Go Bottom-Up

Why Most Companies Are Getting AI Strategy Wrong: It's Time to Go Bottom-Up

Companies are throwing $1.5 trillion at artificial intelligence, yet 95% of GenAI projects fail to deliver returns. The problem isn't the technology—it's that organizations are approaching AI transformation backwards.

The Bottom-Up Revolution is Already Here

New research from 200 IT executives at billion-dollar companies reveals a historic shift: non-technical employees are now leading AI adoption for the first time. These aren't experimental projects—78% focus on solving real workplace challenges, from automating workflows to surfacing buried insights across multiple systems.

Key findings show:

• 91% of executives report non-technical staff play larger roles in AI projects than any previous tech wave
• 78% of leaders say agentic AI has already transformed at least one part of their operations
• Only 38% believe IT will lead AI innovation over the next three years

Power Is Shifting Away from IT Departments

The traditional "gatekeeper" role of IT is dissolving. Operations, HR, and customer service teams are stepping up as AI leaders. What was once called "shadow IT" is being recognized as employee hunger for solutions and initiative to find them.

This redistribution creates more agile organizations and new career paths—40% of executives expect AI to create upward mobility for all employees, not just tech specialists.

Making AI Work for People, Not Against Them

While 89% of employees welcome AI tools, 65% prefer enhancing existing workflows over complete overhauls. Successful companies design AI around people, balancing immediate adoption with transformational potential.

For leaders, this means:

• Empowering frontline employees to identify problems and experiment with solutions
• Evolving IT from gatekeeper to enabler, providing guardrails while encouraging innovation
• Investing in education and building trust across all technical backgrounds

The future of enterprise AI isn't top-down mandates—it's unleashing creativity and expertise from every corner of your organization.

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