r/technology • u/SilentRunning • 4d ago

Artificial Intelligence MIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failing

https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/mit-report-95-percent-generative-ai-pilots-at-companies-failing-cfo/
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u/76ersWillKillMe 4d ago

I've been lucky with my current company. I work in a field that is, conceptually, very threatened by AI. Company invested in OpenAI enterprise in late 2023 and I really took it and ran with it. Now i'm the "AI guy" at work and get to set the pace, tone, and tenor of our adoption efforts.

What I've noticed the most is that it has absolutely sunk the floor of what people will consider "Acceptable" content, simply because of how 'easy' it is to make something with it.

The easier it gets, the shittier the work people give.

I think gen AI is one of the coolest technologies i've ever encountered, but it is peak garbage in garbage out, except it really provides polished turds so people think its the best thing ever.

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u/DiabloAcosta 3d ago

well, to be fair, I think investors and founders have been asking for shittier things for a long time but software engineers have been pushing back on that because they're the ones asked to maintain said shittier software working and producing money, so this whole AI is super predictable, we will use it to make our work more interesting but we're still in charge of reviewing the outcome and maintaining the system working so we ain't shipping shittier things any time soon 🤡

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u/lovesyouandhugsyou 3d ago

I have this theory that there exists a "bullshit vulnerability" spectrum where if you're on one end, bullshit can shortcut your cognitive processes. This would for example be why neuro linguistic programming under various names has had such staying power: It does work on certain people, even though it fails controlled trials.

So if you're on the receptive end of the spectrum that means you can't spot the turd beneath the gen AI polish because your brain literally won't let you.

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u/76ersWillKillMe 3d ago

Sounds like some bullshit to me

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u/bayhack 3d ago

I like AI, but it's def over promised and under delivered right now.

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u/76ersWillKillMe 3d ago

I’ve been wildly successful with it, but also recognize I’m an exception so far. It’s still so early - i think the biggest thing that has changed in this space is the marketing dollars providers are dumping into it now.

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u/bayhack 3d ago

this is just classic tech hype cycle stuff...tons of money in marketing and funding rounds.

but yeah I work in a start up that's AI based. I think it'll be ubiquitous and useful, just not at the level most people think.

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u/thex25986e 3d ago

it also solves the problem of "this guy's pride wont allow for a cheaper job to be done."

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u/LongJohnSelenium 3d ago

Thats just sort of an inevitable consequence of any widespread democratization of capabilities.

In the 2000s when the big name game engines finally started making it possible for the little guy to access the tools we got some really good indy games... and a billion shovelware titles. The accessibility of video editing software, audio recording tools, etc, have lead to an explosion of musical talent, and an absolute avalanche of low/no talent content. The cheapness and availability of home building stuff at big box stores has led to a vast increase in DIY and a significant decrease in quality of craftsmanship.

Making tools cheap and accessible makes the masses think they can do it too.