What It Takes to Be ‘Good’ at AI

Michael Kollo, Director of AI at ADAPT, explores the key factors that contribute to AI success, based on ADAPT’s research which surveyed 200 CIOs across Australia. One of the most significant findings was that AI has rapidly moved from a niche discussion to a strategic priority, with 70% of respondents planning to increase their investment in generative AI. However, despite growing budgets, only 25% of organisations have automated workflows, highlighting a gap between AI readiness and actual implementation. The primary driver for AI adoption remains economic return on investment (ROI), though intangible benefits such as workforce empowerment and operational efficiency are also recognised.

A critical challenge identified was the difficulty in tracking AI’s long-term value, with 50% of CIOs admitting they struggle with measuring ongoing benefits. While initial investment costs are relatively straightforward to calculate, long-term ROI is harder to quantify, making it difficult to justify AI spend to CFOs.…