Why Most AI Projects Don't Deliver ROI and How to Fix It
TechRadar, Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
Only 28% of enterprise AI projects meet ROI expectations because firms deploy tools without changing how they operate.
TechRadar Pro argues that most AI initiatives fail to deliver ROI because organizations fund pilots and deploy smart tools but refuse to change the systems those tools must operate within, with over 90% of pilots never reaching production.
The fix is to measure AI like R&D rather than a conventional IT project, treat it as part of the operating model instead of a collection of tools, and concentrate on a few cross-functional lighthouse projects with AI embedded across the software delivery lifecycle.
It contends competitive advantage comes from how well models are embedded into the operating fabric, not from access to better, increasingly commoditized models. A standardized ROI framework tracking utilization, business outcomes, and strategic value enables portfolio-level decisions.