Artificial intelligence has officially moved from the margins to the mainstream. According to the 2025 Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report, 19% of organisations now run large-scale AI projects, almost double the 10% recorded in 2023. This sharp rise signals a decisive shift: AI is no longer confined to pilot programs and experimental use cases. It is now being embedded into core business operations, delivering tangible returns and reshaping workforce strategies.
The inflection point
Two years ago, most organisations were still “testing the waters” with AI. Pilots were plentiful, but large-scale rollouts were rare. Today, the landscape looks dramatically different. As per the recently released Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership report:
- 57% of organisations now have at least some form of AI implementation.
- One in three report demonstrable ROI from their AI investments, a figure that would have seemed optimistic even a year ago.
- Industries like telecommunications and technology are leading the way, using AI to transform customer service, automate processes, and accelerate software development.
This acceleration is being driven by a mix of boardroom pressure for operational efficiency, the desire for customer intimacy, and plain old FOMO—fear of being left behind.
Where AI is delivering value
The report highlights a diverse set of use cases where AI has moved beyond hype into productivity:
- Software Development: Organisations report up to 20% efficiency improvements in code documentation, refactoring, and testing.
- Customer Service: AI-powered chatbots have cut support costs by 30%, reduced response times by 60%, and improved customer satisfaction.
- Fraud Prevention: Banks and insurers are deploying AI to detect suspicious patterns faster and more accurately than traditional models.
- Predictive Maintenance: Manufacturers are reducing downtime and costs by using AI to predict equipment failures before they happen.
- Sales & Marketing: From automated lead scoring to personalised outreach, AI is directly boosting revenue, with some firms reporting multi-million-dollar uplifts.
The workforce ripple effect
But AI’s rise is not just a technology story, it is also a workforce story.
- Digital leaders expect AI to reduce tech hiring needs by 17% over the next two years.
- Yet paradoxically, companies with large-scale AI deployments are 24% more likely to increase headcount, especially in AI and data roles.
- 65% of leaders would now prefer a GenAI-skilled developer with two years’ experience over a five-year veteran without AI expertise.
This indicates that while AI may automate routine tasks, it is simultaneously creating demand for new, higher-order skills. The shortage of AI talent is already the number-one skills gap globally, reported by 51% of leaders.
Proving the business case a big challenge
Despite the growth, hurdles remain. 49% of leaders cite “demonstrating the business case” as the biggest barrier to AI adoption. Boards are convinced of AI’s potential, but they want proof of value before signing off on large-scale investments.
The best business cases now frame AI not as a cost-saving experiment, but as a driver of efficiency, growth, and competitive advantage.
As one CIO put it in the report: “The strongest pitches shift the conversation from ‘Why invest?’ to ‘How soon can we implement?’”
AI as a platform for reinvention
The rapid doubling of large-scale AI projects in just two years suggests we are at an inflection point similar to cloud adoption in the 2010s. What was once an option is fast becoming a necessity.
The real story, however, is not just about automation or efficiency. AI is becoming a platform for reinvention—allowing organisations to:
- Free up time and resources.
- Make better, faster decisions.
- Reimagine customer and employee experiences.
In a volatile global economy, the organisations that succeed will be those that use AI not just to cut costs, but to create new forms of value.
What’s ahead?
The message is clear: AI is no longer in pilot, it is in production. With large-scale implementations nearly doubling since 2023, organisations are embracing AI as a core enabler of strategy, not just a side project.
Yet the journey is only beginning. The winners will be those who invest in talent, prove the business case, and see AI not as a tool to “make us cheaper,” but as one to “make us better.”
