Achieving AI ROI: Key Findings from MIT’s GenAI Report

MIT’s new report, The GenAI Divide: State of AI in Business 2025, paints a sobering picture of enterprise AI adoption. Despite $30–40 billion in spending, 95% of organizations report no measurable ROI.

This “ROI gap” has become one of the defining challenges in enterprise technology. While AI is being piloted across industries at unprecedented scale, few initiatives make the leap from experimentation to transformation.

At the same time, the study highlights what separates the small group of organizations that do achieve success—offering a roadmap for how firms can turn AI investment into measurable business impact.

MIT’s findings and what they mean for business leaders

MIT’s research found a consistent pattern: most AI pilots never progress into production, while a small minority deliver real business value.

Key reasons for failure include:

• Pilots that stall. Many organizations run dozens of experiments, but few operationalize them beyond proof-of-concept.

• Misaligned budgets. Nearly half of GenAI spending goes to sales and marketing, even though back-office automation often produces stronger ROI.

• Building internally. DIY AI initiatives succeed only a third of the time, while external partnerships double the chance of success.

• Generic tools. Horizontal platforms often look good in demos but fail to adapt to industry-specific workflows.

• Learning limitations. Most GenAI systems cannot retain feedback, adapt to context, or improve over time. Consumer tools like ChatGPT see adoption, but only 5% of enterprise-grade deployments reach production.

The study also identified what sets the 5% apart:

• Vertical focus. Two-thirds of vertical-specific pilots succeed by targeting a small set of high-value use cases with clear success criteria.

• Last-mile execution. Success requires domain-expert partners who can refine outputs, integrate systems, and ensure adoption.

• Vendor evaluation. Leaders value trust, workflow expertise, seamless integration with CRMs, file storage, and data providers, strong data security, and the flexibility to adapt as processes evolve.

For enterprise leaders, the implication is clear: experimentation is not enough. ROI requires thoughtful implementation, domain specialization, and trusted partners.

Closing the AI ROI Gap

The MIT report explains why so many AI efforts fail. Our experience with investment firms shows how organizations can apply those lessons and move into the 5% achieving real returns.

To close the AI ROI gap, we recommend firms:

• Create an AI strategy committee. Establish governance and accountability for AI programs, ensuring priorities are aligned across teams.

• Develop an AI roadmap. Start with three to five high-value use cases, deliver measurable results, and expand in phases.

• Define and measure success. Track both efficiency gains (hours saved, timelines shortened) and quality improvements (better decision-making, stronger reporting).

• Prioritize integration. Ensure AI connects seamlessly to your existing data and systems—CRMs, data providers, and file storage—to minimize disruption and maximize adoption.

• Choose a trusted technology partner. Look for a provider who combines credibility, domain expertise, and security with the ability to support long-term adoption.

These practices move organizations beyond pilots and lay the foundation for sustainable, enterprise-wide ROI.

Why Blueflame clients are in the 5%

MIT’s research validates what Blueflame was built to deliver from the start. While most organizations remain stuck in proof-of-concept mode, Blueflame clients are already in the 5% achieving measurable ROI.

Our platform and client partnerships reflect the principles MIT identified as differentiators:

• Vertical focus. Blueflame was purpose-built for investment professionals, with solutions tailored to workflows like CIM analysis, diligence, sourcing, and investor reporting.

• Defined use cases. We help firms prioritize targeted, custom workflows with clear success metrics, avoiding the trap of unfocused experimentation.

• Seamless integration. Blueflame connects with CRMs, data providers, file storage, and communication tools, embedding intelligence into daily operations with minimal disruption.

• White glove client success. We stay engaged through onboarding, workflow refinement, and continuous improvement, ensuring clients capture ongoing value.

• Security and trust. Our architecture reflects the criteria leaders value most: data privacy, compliance, and adaptability to evolving needs.

Proof in action: An $8B private equity firm increased outreach efficiency by 60% using Blueflame’s personalized workflows, enabling more conversations with the right founders and executives—without adding headcount. Across our client base, firms report saving 10 hours per CIM analysis, accelerating diligence timelines by 60%, and eliminating thousands of hours from transcript reviews.

Blueflame was designed from the start to overcome the challenges MIT describes, helping investment firms put AI into practice and capture measurable ROI.

In a market where 95% of AI investments fail, Blueflame ensures investment firms are among the few realizing lasting returns.

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