Tell me if you've heard this story before? A maintenance manager at a manufacturing plant helped roll out an AI system designed to predict equipment failures before they happened.
It sounded like magic, and for a while, it was. The AI could spot subtle vibration patterns or temperature changes no human could detect. Yet somehow, the company was still dealing with surprise breakdowns, lost production, and late nights.
The problem wasn't the technology — it was the kitchen.
The Kitchen Problem
Most leaders think of AI as the head chef — the one calling the shots, setting the direction, creating the masterpiece. But that's not how AI works best. AI is the sous-chef — the quiet professional that chops, stirs, preps, and organizes so the human chef can focus on creativity and judgment.
In the example above, AI was doing its job. It predicted a bearing failure on a key conveyor system days in advance. But the rest of the kitchen wasn't ready to act. Parts weren't tracked in real time. Budgets needed three signatures for repairs. Technician schedules couldn't flex. By the time approvals came through, the failure it predicted had already happened.
AI Ambition vs. Reality
The statistics paint a sobering picture of our AI ambitions versus reality:
- More than 80% of AI projects fail — twice the failure rate of IT projects that don't involve AI.
- The share of businesses scrapping most of their AI initiatives increased to 42% this year, up from 17% last year.
- Around 70% of implementation challenges stem from people- and process-related issues, 20% from technology problems, and only 10% involve AI algorithms.
These aren't just numbers — they represent real people frustrated by the gap between AI's potential and practical results. These projects fail, not because the algorithms are bad, but because the organization isn't built to support them.
AI can tell you what's about to happen, but it can't change the workflow, the culture, or the human habits that prevent action. That's still our job.
Same Technology. Better Kitchen.
The companies winning with AI aren't the ones with the fanciest tools — they're the ones who redesigned their kitchens. Same technology. Better kitchen.
AI isn't here to replace human expertise; it's here to amplify it. Treat it like a sous-chef:
- Let it prep the data so you can focus on strategy.
- Trust it to handle the routine so you can handle the creative.
- Give it a kitchen — the systems, processes, and culture — where it can actually make a difference.
The question isn't if AI will transform your business — it's whether you'll let it cook alongside you or keep expecting it to run the kitchen alone.
Question for You
How's your kitchen set up? Is your AI a sous-chef… or trying to be the chef?