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Report · August 2026

Surviving the AI Hype Cycle

How to skip the euphoria or recover after the burn, mapped across the seven stages every organization travels.

Cover of Surviving the AI Hype Cycle
Published
August 2026
Length
11 pages
Audio
4:54

What it found

  1. 01

    88% of organizations use AI in at least one business function, while roughly 6% capture measurable P&L impact. Adoption is easy and value is rare.

  2. 02

    Every organization travels the same seven stages, from “what the hell is it?” to “but what if it could…”. The maturity path running underneath turns the trough from a verdict into a work order.

  3. 03

    BCG's 10-20-70 rule puts 10% of successful adoption on algorithms, 20% on technology and data, and 70% on people and process. Most organizations invert it.

  4. 04

    64% of CEOs admit that fear of falling behind drives them to invest before they understand the value, and only 25% of initiatives delivered the ROI those leaders expected.

  5. 05

    Gartner places generative AI in the trough and agentic AI at the peak of inflated expectations, the exact spot generative AI held two years ago. Nearly three-quarters of companies plan to deploy agents within two years, and 21% have a mature governance model for them.

Audio overview

4:54

The report as a conversation — the same findings, discussed. Useful if you would rather listen on the drive than read at a desk.

--:--4:54

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