Written by Konstantin Tsybulko, Stephanie Cheney, Tony Sturgeon and Mike Dennis
This year at AI4, Dualboot’s team had the chance to do more than just listen. Select members from our Leadership, Product, and Sales teams were on the ground—connecting with industry leaders, exchanging perspectives, and sharing how we approach AI adoption through our DB90 methodology and 3PO framework. From conversations with peers to presenting our own approach, the experience made one thing clear: companies are eager for real execution, not just AI hype.
Disruption Never Sleeps
The AI revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here. The pace of change is so intense that companies once considered disruptors are now the ones being disrupted. That reality was front and center at this year’s AI4 conference, where one clear message emerged: the winners in this new era won’t be defined by how loudly they talk about AI, but by how effectively they execute.
“The best companies aren’t building in isolation—they’re integrating into workflows or consolidating them. Everything else risks becoming shelfware that nobody actually uses.”
—Konstantin Tsybulko, CRO
While new AI products are everywhere, the market is quick to leave behind tools that can’t prove their value in everyday business.
AI Everywhere, ROI Nowhere
Despite all the noise, meaningful adoption still lags. Many organizations are experimenting on the edges instead of embedding AI into the workflows that matter most.
This disconnect between using AI and delivering ROI is exactly where many projects fail.
“People are growing frustrated with companies putting flimsy AI wrappers around their products and services that don’t have much substance, just rebranding with ‘AI’ to try and catch attention.”
—Tony Sturgeon
He explained that people don’t want buzzwords or recycled talking points—they want to learn the what and how from those who have actually delivered ROI.
And the data is sobering: a recent MIT study shows that 95% of generative AI projects are failing to produce returns. The demand for real outcomes has never been louder.
We’ve seen how our DB90 methodology resonates precisely because it bridges this gap: turning ideas into execution and helping organizations avoid the trap of “innovation theater.”
The Employee-Led AI Wave
While companies hesitate, employees are surging ahead. They’re experimenting on their own—building agents, testing tools, and creating processes that often outpace official company strategies.
“Employees will start looking for other opportunities at companies that are moving faster and providing more cutting-edge experiences or training opportunities”
—Stephanie Cheney
This trend signals a hidden risk: losing top innovators to organizations that empower them with structured AI adoption programs.
The New Vendor Playbook
At the same time, when it comes to scaling AI adoption, companies aren’t waiting. They are running to experts at the decision point, looking for vendors with teams who are already skilled, compliance-ready, and able to accelerate them to the forefront of the market.
This readiness is becoming the new differentiator. As Tony also noted, developer pushback is real—33% of developers report actively resisting AI in software development, with that number climbing to 41% among Gen Z and Millennials. Overcoming this barrier requires more than technology; it requires process, cultural change, and partners who know how to navigate both.
Execution Is the Only Edge
The lesson from AI4 is clear: hype won’t cut it anymore. The companies that thrive will be the ones embedding AI into workflows, enabling employees instead of being outpaced by them, and choosing partners who are already battle-tested. Execution—not headlines—is the real differentiator.
Our DB90 methodology is designed to close the gap between ideas and impact, helping organizations avoid “innovation theater” and achieve outcomes that last. If you’d like to learn more about how our methodology and 3PO framework can help your organization move from ideas to impact, get in touch with us.
