AI adoption stalls as companies struggle to scale projects despite strong returns, study shows

Oct 1 (Reuters) - Only 13% of companies were on track with their AI initiatives, as regulatory hurdles and integration with legacy IT systems slowed large-scale adoption, a BearingPoint study found.

Nearly three-quarters of companies surveyed reported positive financial results from AI but less than a third could move beyond pilot projects, the consultancy firm said on Thursday.

• "AI has crossed an important threshold," said BearingPoint expert Frederic Gigant, and added that proving value and scaling it were two different things

• About 40% of respondents cited legal regulations as the main barrier to scaling AI, while 34% pointed to challenges integrating the new technology into existing IT systems

• Around 24% of companies reported AI-driven cost savings of at least 10%, compared with just 4% reporting revenue growth of the same scale

• Nearly two-thirds of companies estimated excess staffing levels of at least 10%

• China and the US lead AI adoption, with 20% and 18% of companies reporting comprehensive implementation, versus 8% in Germany

• The share of companies with AI deeply integrated into operations rose to 11% in 2026 from 7% in 2025