CIO Argues Culture, Not Technology, Is Blocking AI Returns

A CIO column argues that stalled AI returns come mainly from people and process problems. It cites IBM's 2025 CEO study (25% of AI initiatives met expected ROI), MIT NANDA's finding that 95% of generative AI pilots showed no measurable P&L impact, and SAP and Oxford Economics' 2026 report (69% of businesses satisfied with AI ROI). It also cites a BCG survey attributing about 70% of AI implementation challenges to people and processes, and a 10/20/70 spend split (algorithms, technology and data, people and processes) that the author says the highest-value companies follow.

Why it matters: IT leaders who are being asked to justify AI spending can use the 70% people-and-process allocation benchmark to reframe budgets and change-management priorities.