Beyond the Pilot Project: The Hard Truth About Making AI Actually Work

Bridging the gap from AI pilot to production is tough. Key lessons from my agency on data, ops, people & strategy from real-world AI.

ChatGPT made this image for me.

The excitement around AI is undeniable. Successful projects generally rake in over $3 to every dollar spent in the first 12 months.

And while that is very true, a vast majority—estimates suggest over 85% of enterprises—that explore AI, fail. They get no where, or they get chaos and their projects stall.

At PromptOwl, being one of the few shops that specialize in completely custom, enterprise, we‘ve seen the aftermath of past failures firsthand. Often, our clients reach out after they’ve spun their wheels and stalled pilot project. They all realized they met their limits and needed a partner to guide them. In short, they needed someone to help them navigate the gap between initial enthusiasm and operational reality.

I wanted to share some key takeaways about what it truly takes to bridge that gap. My hope is to save some of you from the normal pitfalls, and if you are going to need help, to understand why and get that help earlier.