Echoing economist Robert Solow's 1987 observation about computers, thousands of CEOs now admit AI has no measurable productivity impact. This suggests history is repeating, where major technological shifts have a long, multi-year lag before their economic benefits are truly realized and measured.

Companies feel immense pressure to integrate AI to stay competitive, leading to massive spending. However, this rush means they lack the infrastructure to measure ROI, creating a paradox of anxious investment without clear proof of value.

A recent survey reveals a stark disconnect: executives claim massive productivity gains from AI (8-12+ hours/week), while 40% of non-management staff report zero time savings. This highlights a failure in training and personalized use case development for frontline employees.

Surveys reveal a catastrophic disconnect: 81% of C-suite executives believe their company has clear AI policies and training, while only ~28% of individual contributors agree. This executive blindness means the real barriers to adoption—lack of tools, training, and clear guidance—are not being addressed.

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.

Enterprise surveys show a major shift: CEOs are taking direct control of AI initiatives from CIOs. They are increasingly willing to make substantial, long-term investments in AI—even if a recession hits or if tangible ROI isn't immediately measurable—viewing it as an existential imperative for survival and growth.

There is a significant gap between how companies talk about using AI and their actual implementation. While many leaders claim to be "AI-driven," real-world application is often limited to superficial tasks like social media content, not deep, transformative integration into core business processes.

A satirical take highlights a real trend: large enterprises are rolling out AI tools not for tangible ROI but for "digital transformation" optics. Success is measured with fabricated metrics like "AI enablement" to impress boards and investors, while actual usage remains negligible and productivity gains are unverified.

Companies are spending millions on enterprise AI tools not for measurable productivity gains but for "digital transformation" PR. A satirical take highlights a common reality: actual usage is negligible, but made-up metrics create positive investor narratives, making the investment a success in perception, not practice.