Harnessing AI: Lessons From Past Transformations

BusinessHarnessing AI: Lessons From Past TransformationsByPeter Follows,Forbes Books Author.for Forbes BooksAUTHOR POSTExpertise and opinions of authors published by ForbesBooks. Imprint operated under license. | Paid ProgramJun 02, 2026, 11:38am EDTStruggles with harnessing AI are following patterns similar to those of previous digital transformations.gettyCo-authored by JJ Laforet, Director of Carpedia InternationalThere’s no question that artificial intelligence has created a groundbreaking shift in how organizations operate. It’s faster, more accessible, more visible, and in many cases, more powerful than anything that has come before it.Leaders are right to take it seriously.But while the technology is new, the challenge it introduces is not. Because if you look closely at what organizations are struggling with when it comes to harnessing AI, things like adoption, consistency, and return on investment, it begins to feel very familiar.A Familiar Pattern in a New FormOver the past several decades, businesses have experienced wave after wave of transformation. ERP systems promised integration, Lean management promised efficiency, digital transformations promised visibility, and advanced analytics promised insight.Each time, the narrative was compelling, and the potential was real. Yet, in many organizations, the results fell short of expectations, not because the technology or methodology didn’t work, but because the organization struggled to change how it operated.That is the pattern we are seeing again today with AI.When organizations talk about AI adoption, the conversation often centers on tools: Which platform should we use? How advanced are the models? How quickly can capabilities be deployed?These are important questions. But they are not the ones that determine success.The real question is much simpler: Will this change how people actually work? However, the answer to this question is much more complex and cannot be clarified by a tidy list of features.Bec...