Corporate AI adoption hits a wall of outdated culture and management

The survey of senior decision-makers shows that companies are successfully leveraging AI to boost operational efficiency and customer experience. Yet, a significant blind spot persists: only 18 percent of leadership prioritize work redesign and a mere 9 percent focus on culture as key drivers for AI success. This oversight creates friction, as 84 percent of respondents identify cultural barriers—specifically employee resistance and rigid governance—as obstacles to their initiatives.

Melissa Jezior, president and CEO of Eagle Hill Consulting, notes that the current phase of transformation requires moving beyond simple tool adoption. With fewer than half of organizations systematically reviewing work processes or planning employee development for AI, the gap between potential and performance is widening. Success depends on whether leaders can move past the assumption that AI is merely a shortcut for speed, and instead treat it as a fundamental change to how work is organized and talent is nurtured.