Harvard Research: Leaders Ask Wrong AI Questions, Costing Competitive Edge
A Harvard Business Review study suggests many business leaders focus on AI's limitations and future potential, hindering their ability to leverage its current capabilities for competitive advantage.
New research published in the Harvard Business Review indicates that many business leaders are asking the wrong questions about artificial intelligence (AI). This focus, according to the study, is preventing organizations from effectively utilizing AI's current capabilities to gain a competitive edge.
Professors Andy Wu and Bharat Anand, authors of "The GenAI Playbook for Organizations," surveyed hundreds of managers to understand their approaches to AI. They consistently heard questions centered on when AI would match human intelligence, what competitors were doing with AI, and whether AI was accurate enough for real value. The researchers deemed these questions "misdirected."
This line of questioning, the study concludes, leads to a passive "wait and see" approach rather than the development of proactive strategies. Organizations are delaying the creation of clear plans to harness AI's benefits, potentially missing opportunities.
The authors propose a more valuable and actionable question for leaders: "How can my organization use gen AI effectively today, regardless of its limitations, to create a competitive advantage?" This reframing encourages a focus on immediate applications and strategic deployment to bolster market position.