Escaping the 95% Pilot Graveyard
Why do 95% of Gen AI pilots fail to launch? Why are enterprises deferring 25% of 2026 spend? Discover the data-backed playbook to move from 'Science Project' to Production Value.
Navigate through interactive sections to master lead generation strategies
Escaping the 95% Pilot Graveyard
Why most Gen AI pilots fail and how the successful 5% break through to production
The data reveals a stark reality: 95% of enterprise Gen AI pilots fail to reach production. Meanwhile, 25% of planned 2026 AI spend is being deferred to 2027 due to unclear ROI. This guide provides the data-backed playbook to move from 'Science Project' to Production Value, based on research from MIT, Forrester, and PwC.
- 95% of Gen AI pilots fail to scale beyond proof-of-concept (MIT Research)
- Only 8.6% of enterprises have AI agents in production (Jan 2026 Survey)
- 25% of 2026 AI spend will be deferred to 2027 (Forrester Prediction)
- 61% of business leaders report significantly higher ROI pressure vs 2025
- The 20/80 Rule: Technology is only 20% of success; Work Redesign is 80%
The most common failure pattern: over-investing in model selection and technical integration while neglecting how the tool fits into daily workflows.
The successful 5% share common traits: clear P&L ownership, real data from Day 1, and aggressive focus on adoption velocity over technical sophistication.