Unlike traditional software that optimizes for time-in-app, the most successful AI products will be measured by their ability to save users time. The new benchmark for value will be how much cognitive load or manual work is automated "behind the scenes," fundamentally changing the definition of a successful product.

Providing AI licenses isn't enough. Companies must actively manage the transition of employees from basic users (asking simple questions) to advanced users who treat AI as a collaborator for complex, high-value tasks, which is where real ROI is found.

The value you extract from AI follows a formula: Skill x Clarity = Leverage. Your domain expertise (Skill) multiplied by your ability to communicate precise instructions (Clarity) determines the amplification effect (Leverage) you'll receive from any AI tool.

The anticipated AI productivity boom may already be happening but is invisible in statistics. Current metrics excel at measuring substitution (replacing a worker) but fail to capture quality improvements when AI acts as a complement, making professionals like doctors or bankers better at their jobs. This unmeasured quality boost is a major blind spot.

Most view AI for efficiency, but its true power lies in handling routine tasks to free up human talent. This unlocks capacity for strategic, creative, and relationship-driven work that fuels innovation and growth, shifting the question from cost savings to new capabilities.

Companies struggle to measure AI's return on investment because its value often materializes as individual productivity gains for employees. These personal efficiencies, like finishing work earlier, don't show up on corporate dashboards, creating a mismatch between perceived value and actual impact.

Measuring AI's value by hours saved is misleading for law firms, as it can imply lower revenue. The true ROI comes from what lawyers do with that saved time: pursuing more complex strategies, conducting deeper analysis, and spending more time with clients—high-value work previously constrained by time.

A study identifies a persona of highly effective AI users, “Augmented Strategists,” who achieve the highest net productivity gains. A key differentiator for this group is that they are two times more likely to have received substantial skills training, proving that targeted upskilling is essential for creating valuable AI adopters.

The primary benefit of AI for experienced users has evolved from efficiency gains to enabling entirely new tasks and boosting overall throughput. Time savings, once the top benefit, is now third, especially for heavy users focused on strategic value over simple task automation.