Great question! From the session at Testmu 2025, here’s what we learned about overcoming the “pilot-purgatory problem” that often holds AI initiatives back from going beyond the initial prototype stage.
First, securing executive sponsorship is absolutely key. Having leaders who genuinely believe in the AI vision and actively champion it can make all the difference. It sets the tone across the organization and helps get the necessary resources and support.
Then, it’s essential to assign cross-functional owners. AI isn’t just a tech problem—it’s a company-wide initiative. You need product, data, engineering, and QA teams all involved, collaborating to make sure the project stays aligned with business goals.
Speaking of goals, always tie your AI pilots to business outcomes. Don’t treat them like isolated experiments. Instead, make sure that whatever you’re building directly impacts the bottom line, whether that’s improving efficiency, reducing costs, or increasing customer satisfaction. This ensures the project feels relevant and motivates everyone to push forward.
Next, incentivizing adoption with measurable KPIs is a game-changer. Setting clear, tangible goals like how much time will be saved, how much accuracy will improve, or how much revenue will be impacted helps keep the momentum going. It turns AI adoption into something that’s not just a nice-to-have but a must-have.
Finally, don’t let AI outputs sit in separate dashboards that no one really looks at. Instead, integrate AI outputs into your team’s daily workflows. Make it a natural part of their routine, so it becomes second nature to rely on AI for decision-making. This helps AI move from a “project” to a “tool” that people use every day.
In short, it’s about creating a culture that doesn’t just experiment with AI but truly embeds it into the company’s DNA. With the right strategies, AI becomes an enabler, not just a pilot.