Companies struggle with AI not because of the models, but because their data is siloed. Adopting an 'integration-first' mindset is crucial for creating the unified data foundation AI requires.

A major hurdle for enterprise AI is messy, siloed data. A synergistic solution is emerging where AI software agents are used for the data engineering tasks of cleansing, normalization, and linking. This creates a powerful feedback loop where AI helps prepare the very data it needs to function effectively.

Initial failure is normal for enterprise AI agents because they are not just plug-and-play models. ROI is achieved by treating AI as an entire system that requires iteration across models, data, workflows, and user experience. Expecting an out-of-the-box solution to work perfectly is a recipe for disappointment.

Before deploying AI across a business, companies must first harmonize data definitions, especially after mergers. When different units call a "raw lead" something different, AI models cannot function reliably. This foundational data work is a critical prerequisite for moving beyond proofs-of-concept to scalable AI solutions.

Vendors selling "one-click" AI agents that promise immediate gains are likely just marketing. Due to messy enterprise data and legacy infrastructure, any meaningful AI deployment that provides significant ROI will take at least four to six months of work to build a flywheel that learns and improves over time.

Companies struggle to get value from AI because their data is fragmented across different systems (ERP, CRM, finance) with poor integrity. The primary challenge isn't the AI models themselves, but integrating these disparate data sets into a unified platform that agents can act upon.

While AI models improved 40-60% and consumer use is high, only 5% of enterprise GenAI deployments are working. The bottleneck isn't the model's capability but the surrounding challenges of data infrastructure, workflow integration, and establishing trust and validation, a process that could take a decade.

Headlines about high AI pilot failure rates are misleading because it's incredibly easy to start a project, inflating the denominator of attempts. Robust, successful AI implementations are happening, but they require 6-12 months of serious effort, not the quick wins promised by hype cycles.

The primary reason multi-million dollar AI initiatives stall or fail is not the sophistication of the models, but the underlying data layer. Traditional data infrastructure creates delays in moving and duplicating information, preventing the real-time, comprehensive data access required for AI to deliver business value. The focus on algorithms misses this foundational roadblock.