A BearingPoint study reported by Reuters found that only 13% of companies were on track with their AI initiatives, as regulatory hurdles and legacy IT integration slowed wider adoption. Nearly three-quarters of surveyed companies reported positive financial results from AI projects, but less than a third had moved beyond pilot projects.
About 40% of respondents cited legal regulations as the main barrier to scaling AI, while 34% pointed to difficulties integrating AI with existing IT systems. Around 24% reported AI-driven cost savings of at least 10%, compared with 4% reporting revenue growth of the same scale.
The findings are useful for students and job seekers because they show the difference between experimenting with AI and integrating it into everyday business operations. AI projects can produce financial benefits while still facing technical and regulatory obstacles.
The study also found that China and the US led adoption, with 20% and 18% of companies reporting comprehensive implementation, while the share of companies with AI deeply integrated into operations rose to 11% in 2026 from 7% in 2025.