Why history repeats itself and how to decide differently this time
AI adoption is a strategic project. Not technological. Not IT operational. Not educational. Strategic.
In my long business career, I have witnessed many failed so-called “IT projects” – such as CRM and ERP implementations. But I have also been part of some highly successful projects where we first established business foundations, empowered business leaders, achieved business objectives benefiting the company and its customers, and thus contributed to realizing strategic ambitions.
Today we are in a mature digital economy, with early signs of the intelligence economy already emerging. Yet history keeps repeating itself – companies are unfortunately making the same historical mistake with AI adoption. They see AI adoption as a technological operational project. This time, it could even prove fatal for them.
To ensure you are not among them, AIVaaS™ is available – an approach to strategic and business-successful AI adoption.
A Story That Repeats
A few years ago, the first artificial intelligence algorithms arrived in companies. And what we had seen before happened again. Executive leadership handed these projects over to IT managers and data scientists. The result? The same. Insufficient business outcomes.
Then came 2025. The artificial intelligence boom. But unfortunately, mainly in the technological domain. Most companies adopted AI either as pilot technology projects or as training programs. Business foundations and top management commitment to comprehensive strategic AI adoption were practically nowhere to be seen.
And history repeated itself.
2026: New Reality, Old Mistakes?
We are in 2026. AI is rapidly moving into multi-agent environments. Soon you will need to orchestrate entire teams of AI agents – assistants to your best people.
A question for CEOs and executive teams: Will you really leave this to technical staff or external vendors? Do you think they know your strategic ambitions well enough? That they will be able to manage change among your employees?
Or will you tell each business function “figure it out yourselves”? And multiply existing silos with AI?
Two Approaches to AI Adoption
IT/Technology approach – this is unfortunately how most companies WRONGLY approach it: delegated to IT (technical staff leads, management is merely a sponsor), technology-first (tools before strategy), pilots without or with limited production (essentially just an experiment and an excuse that something was done in the AI space), silos (each department works separately, without coordination).
Result: Insufficient business outcomes.
Strategic business approach – this is how successful companies approach it: led by CEO (business leadership actively leads, defines AI ambition), business-first (strategy before technology), business outcomes (focus on measurable value and KPIs), integration (holistic approach, synergies between departments).
Result: Measurable business value and competitive advantage.
The key difference is in the approach.
Your Opportunity
Companies that make the leap from the digital to the intelligence economy correctly will be virtually uncatchable. Some are already doing it.
The real question: Are your competitors among them?
Even more importantly: Will you be among them?
2026 is your opportunity to act differently this time – strategically, business-oriented.
The best practice for business-successful AI adoption captured in the AIVaaS™ model can help you achieve this.
Aleš Štempihar CEO Sparring Partner
If you want to approach AI adoption comprehensively and ensure the realization of measurable value and high ROI, I invite you to visit the website of our business partner IIBA Slovenia, where you will find a description of AIVaaS™ (AI Value as a Service) and meet the team of AIVaaS™ experts.
More at: https://slovenia.iiba.org/page/ai-value-as-a-service-1/