Every enterprise wants to leverage AI, but many stumble right out of the gate. The problem isn’t that AI lacks potential—it’s that leaders often misunderstand what it can and can’t do. Glenn Russell, Global AI Practice Lead at Egen, joined Swapnil Bhartiya to share the most common missteps and how to set a clear, realistic path forward.

Russell stressed that AI should be treated as an evolutionary technology, not a revolutionary one. “It’s not some kind of magic dust which you can sprinkle on your business, and all of a sudden things get better. It requires thought. It requires planning, like any other piece of technology,” he said.

The first step, according to Russell, is defining clear outcomes. Whether it’s answering support tickets faster or boosting customer retention by 20%, leaders must anchor AI adoption in measurable business goals. That clarity not only provides a definition of success but also helps bring the organization along for the journey. “This is very much a people-first technology where people are augmented by the technology, not replaced,” he added.

Russell also encouraged enterprises to embrace hybrid approaches. While hype surrounds generative AI, the most effective solutions often blend GenAI with traditional machine learning and even deterministic code. Starting small with well-understood problems, rather than ambitious moonshots, makes adoption far more sustainable.

Ultimately, Russell framed AI adoption as a classic digital transformation challenge. The right approach isn’t about chasing hype, but about patience, communication, and incremental wins that tie directly to business value.