In the years following the debut of ChatGPT and the rise in awareness around generative Artificial Intelligence, many companies have taken initial steps like launching pilot tests and publishing usage guidelines. However, significant adoption from a strategic standpoint remains minimal, as indicated by a KPMG survey revealing only 16% of companies have integrated generative AI into their strategic framework.
The survey, conducted with 93 U.S. board members, also found that the level of strategic integration has remained relatively flat over the past year, showing only a minor increase from 14%. While 23% of board members identified it as a strategic priority for 2025, nearly a fifth reported minimal or no discussion about the potential and ramifications of generative AI within boardrooms.
Despite these challenges, progress is visible in other areas. More companies have established generative AI usage guidelines and initiated employee training programs. For many directors, operational efficiency, rather than innovative product or service development, remains the main objective of adopting generative AI.
Obstacles to more strategic integration, according to the survey, include a need for new skills, talent, and organizational cultural transformation. Companies face the complexities of transforming business models and reallocating resources to support AI initiatives, which underscores the nuanced challenges in evolving generative AI from an experimental tool to a core strategic asset.
