In December 2025, business leaders are all-in on the revolutionary potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—yet they're hitting a frustrating wall. Surveys paint a sobering picture: Only 15% of executives saw profit boosts from AI last year, and a mere 5% report widespread value. As one analyst put it, tech giants hyped lightning-fast change, but "we humans don’t change that fast."
The core issue? AI's "jagged frontier"—it crushes complex tasks like coding but flops on basics, like accurately summarizing safety manuals or giving blunt advice without excessive flattery. Companies like Klarna scaled back bold claims of replacing hundreds of agents, realizing customers crave human empathy for tricky issues. Verizon echoes this: AI handles routine queries, but people win on emotional ones.
Even AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic are shifting to hands-on partnerships, embedding experts to customize tools. The vibe? Cautiously optimistic, but wary of a dot-com bust if the promise doesn't deliver soon. Businesses are delaying spends, demanding real ROI over hype.
Do you think AI has potential for positive influence in how humans conduct business, or will adopting this technology only lead to disaster? Share your thoughts below. ⬇️
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/business/business-leaders-agree-ai-is-future-they-just-wish-it-worked-right-now-2025-12-16/