Infographic

How Technology Operating Models Are Evolving for AI

Companies are beginning to make the organizational changes necessary to scale and capture real value.

By Will Poindexter, Darren Johnson, and Daan van Ginneken

First published on mayo 12, 2026
min read


AI adoption is widespread—value realization isn’t Our survey on the impact of AI on technology operating models found that most companies are using AI in some capacity, but only about half report scaling to levels that capture value. As companies push to realize real returns from significant AI investments, they’re rethinking how their organizations are set up to deliver. 81 implementing AI beyond pilots While 81% of respondents have moved past AI pilots, only about 12% have embedded AI into core processes. In tech functions, realized value across use cases typically reached just 10% to 25%—which might be the maximum companies should expect to achieve by simply providing tech talent with new AI tools vs. rethinking how work gets done. We also found that 85% of companies plan to increase AI investment—many significantly. Our industry analysis in 2026 finds that the leaders who are seeing real value from their investments aren’t just spending more: They’re aligning operating models, technology talent, and governance in ways that translate ambition into measurable outcomes. How are operating models evolving to get the most out of AI investments? What’s holding some companies back? % cite insufficient technical talent or AI skills % struggle to demonstrate clear ROI or business value % point to budget or resource constraints % point to change management and cultural resistance How leaders can deliver AI integration and value Pressure to notch returns on huge AI investments will only continue to build. At this point in the transformation of business through AI, most senior executives have learned that pilot programs and even scaled rollouts aren’t returning the productivity improvements needed to justify spending. The way up is through more meaningful change: Source: Impact of AI on Technology Operating Model Survey 2025 (n=227)

AI adoption is widespread—value realization isn’t

Our survey on the impact of AI on technology operating models found that most companies are using AI in some capacity, but only about half report scaling to levels that capture value. As companies push to realize real returns from significant AI investments, they’re rethinking how their organizations are set up to deliver.

implementing AI beyond pilots

While 81% of respondents have moved past AI pilots, only about 12% have embedded AI into core processes. In tech functions, realized value across use cases typically reached just 10% to 25%—which might be the maximum companies should expect to achieve by simply providing tech talent with new AI tools vs. rethinking how work gets done.

We also found that 85% of companies plan to increase AI investment—many significantly. Our industry analysis in 2026 finds that the leaders who are seeing real value from their investments aren’t just spending more: They’re aligning operating models, technology talent, and governance in ways that translate ambition into measurable outcomes.

How are operating models evolving to get the most out of AI investments?

What’s holding some companies back?

cite insufficient technical talent or AI skills

struggle to demonstrate clear ROI or business value

point to budget or resource constraints

point to change management and cultural resistance

How leaders can deliver AI integration and value

Pressure to notch returns on huge AI investments will only continue to build.

At this point in the transformation of business through AI, most senior executives have learned that pilot programs and even scaled rollouts aren’t returning the productivity improvements needed to justify spending.

The way up is through more meaningful change: