AI adoption stalls as companies struggle to scale projects despite strong returns, study shows
A recent study by BearingPoint reveals that AI adoption among companies remains stagnant, despite the financial benefits of the technology, due to regulatory challenges and integration with outdated IT systems. According to the findings, only 13% of surveyed companies are advancing their AI initiatives, while 77% reported positive financial results from their AI projects but fewer than a third have progressed beyond pilot projects.
AI has reached a critical juncture, according to Frederic Gigant, a BearingPoint expert, but proving value and scaling it are two distinct challenges. Over 40% of respondents cited legal regulations as the primary obstacle to scaling AI, while 34% attributed the issue to difficulties in integrating the new technology into existing IT systems. Around a quarter of companies reported AI-driven cost savings of at least 10%, but only 4% reported revenue growth of the same magnitude.
Notably, nearly two-thirds of companies surveyed estimated they had excess staffing levels of at least 10%. China and the US lead the way in AI adoption, with 20% and 18% of companies, respectively, reporting comprehensive implementation, as opposed to just 8% in Germany. In 2026, the share of companies with AI deeply ingrained in their operations had increased to 11% from 7% in 2025.
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