Study: Only 13% of companies are on the right track with artificial intelligence

Only 13% of companies are on the right track with their artificial intelligence initiatives, according to a BearingPoint study, after regulatory barriers and integration with legacy IT systems slowed adoption at scale, as Reuters reports on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Almost three-quarters of the companies surveyed report positive financial results from the use of AI, but fewer than a third have managed to move beyond the pilot-project stage, the study shows.

Around 40% of respondents cite legal regulations as the main obstacle to scaling artificial intelligence, while 34% point to the difficulties of integrating the new technology into existing information technology systems.

Around 24% of companies report savings from the use of AI of at least 10%, compared with only 4% reporting revenue growth on the same scale. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds estimate staffing surpluses of at least 10%.

China and the United States lead artificial intelligence adoption, with 20% and 18% reporting comprehensive implementation, compared with only 8% in Germany. The share of companies with AI deeply integrated into operations rose to 11% in 2026, from 7% in 2025.

BearingPoint expert Frederic Gigant said that “AI has crossed an important threshold”, adding that proving its value and scaling that value were two entirely different things.