AI in Action: The Bridge Over the Trough of Disillusionment 

The Problem: When AI Hype Outruns Strategy

At the start of 2025, the AI narrative matured. The boundless excitement of generative models and LLMs had given way to sobering reality. Many companies found themselves in the “trough of disillusionment” caught between early promise and practical impact.

But this phase isn’t a failure; it’s a filter. The organizations that emerged on the other side weren’t the ones that built the flashiest demos. They were the ones that aligned AI with business priorities, grounded projects in real use cases, and focused on transformation, not gimmicks.

Across sectors, from public sector document redaction to energy forecasting and retail pricing strategies, the winners did one thing differently: they treated use cases as the strategic core of their AI programs. Not a nice-to-have. Not an afterthought. The foundation.

Diagnosing the Disconnect: No Use Case, No Impact

The true gap wasn’t technical, it was operational. AI wasn’t failing because the models weren’t good enough. It was failing because the use cases weren’t meaningful enough. Without clear linkage to high-value outcomes, even the smartest models couldn’t generate real ROI.

Ask any operator or CXO: "Where does AI make a real difference?" The answer should live at the intersection of business urgency and technical viability, not in a demo booth.

The most common missteps:

• Starting with the AI model instead of the mission
• Skipping feasibility checks
• Ignoring existing data quality and infrastructure
• Treating AI as a vendor conversation, not a cross-functional strategy

AI-In-Action: Building the Bridge

The AI-In-Action program doesn’t chase hype. It provides the structure organizations need to cross the trough of disillusionment with a practical, phased approach that builds confidence and clarity.

Serious AI Games (Ideation Phase):

Rather than starting with AI model selection, AI-In-Action begins by guiding cross-functional teams through facilitated workshops in close collaboration with our partners see6. These aren’t brainstorming sessions, they’re strategic exercises that uncover high-impact problems AI can actually solve.

Outcomes include:

• Prioritized AI use cases grounded in operational pain points
• Business-aligned narratives that demystify AI
• A shared understanding of what success looks like

Technical Feasibility Evaluation:

Once use cases are locked in, the feasibility phase of the AI in Action program kicks in. Assessing data availability, model compatibility, infrastructure readiness, and risks. No leap-of-faith assumptions. No mystery-box solutions.

This phase ensures:

• Use cases aren’t just valuable, they’re executable
• Data is properly structured, secure, and sufficient
• Current toolsets are leveraged rather than reinvented

AI Use Case Roadmap:

With ideation and feasibility aligned, the roadmap closes the loop. It translates opportunity into execution with clear timelines, ownership, and milestones. This plan is tailored, not templated.

Organizations leave this phase with:

• A cross-functional delivery plan
• Alignment between strategic outcomes and technical delivery
• A path forward that de-risks scale

Results That Matter: Where AI in Action Moves the Needle

Use case-first execution unlocks real value, because it connects AI to business results.

Some examples inspired by AI-In-Action implementations:

• Judicial systems: Automating redaction of outdated criminal records with human-in-the-loop models
• Energy: Instantly forecasting retrofit costs based on decades of historical reports and climate data
• Retail: Dynamic pricing and promo schedules that returned $50M+ in working capital
• Logistics: Analyzing shipment delays with agentic flows that integrated structured metrics and unstructured memos

These aren’t general-purpose AI applications. They’re bespoke, strategically aligned deployments. They solve something that matters.

From Trough to AI Transformation

The trough of disillusionment isn't a failure, it's a filter. And it rewards organizations who lead with discipline, not demos. AI-In-Action flips the script: use cases drive strategy, feasibility informs scale, and execution becomes inevitable, not impossible.

In 2025, it’s not about whether AI can deliver. It’s about whether the business knows how to ask.

And with the right framework? The bridge isn’t theoretical anymore, it’s operational.

Join the ranks of successful companies and turn every AI initiative into a calculated winning move to achieve lasting business impact. AI in Action workshops are designed to move you from AI talk to AI traction, ensuring that every AI initiative delivers real impact.  

Take the first step towards transforming your business with AI.  

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