A new global survey from McKinsey reveals a growing disconnect between AI adoption and AI impact. Nearly every company is experimenting with artificial intelligence, yet about two-thirds say they have not begun scaling it across the enterprise.
A select few are redefining what success looks like. A small group of AI “high performers”—organizations that attribute more than 5% of EBIT growth directly to AI—are showing what’s truly possible. Their advantage? They view AI primarily as a growth and/or innovation catalyst.
The mindset divide: Many companies frame AI as a way to improve efficiency enterprise-wide. While certainly a valuable objective, McKinsey’s research suggests this approach can be limiting. High performers use it to reimagine work, not just optimize it—driving transformation in three key ways:
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Innovating products and services;
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Redesigning workflows and decision-making; and
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Preparing a workforce that’s organizationally ready for disruptive change.
What the Data Reveals: Most companies are still in the early stages of their AI journey.
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88% report using AI in at least one business function.
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One-third have begun scaling AI across the enterprise.
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Only 7% have fully deployed and scaled AI in core parts of the business.
· Fewer than 10% are scaling AI agents in any specific function.
Today’s most common use cases? IT and knowledge management.
What sets high performers apart? McKinsey’s analysis highlights the traits of organizations that are winning with AI:
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Bold ambition: High performers are 3.6x more likely to say AI will transform their business within three years.
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Growth over savings: 82% set growth objectives for AI (vs. 50% of others), and 79% set innovation goals (vs. 50%).
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Customer oriented: They report stronger gains in customer satisfaction, profitability, and competitive differentiation.
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Reimagined work: They are 2.8x more likely to redesign workflows from the ground up—proving that transformation starts with people and processes, not just technology.
Scaling transformation, not just technology: What’s striking is how intertwined these outcomes are. The companies that use AI to drive growth and innovation are the same ones that find it easier to scale and ultimately achieve sustainable productivity improvements.
