Over the past two years, the generative AI landscape has evolved rapidly. Since ChatGPT's launch in November 2022, initial fears about AI superintelligence have shifted to more grounded expectations about its practical benefits for businesses. While generative AI holds promise for increased efficiency, cost savings, and productivity, the outcomes have not fully lived up to the grand promises by major tech companies. There have been notable successes in specific sectors. For instance, GitHub's Copilot AI reportedly increased software development speed by 55%, also enhancing code readability and maintainability, although some research disputes these claims. Effective AI integration into businesses requires strategic planning and can be costly, causing hesitation among tech leaders. In 2023, the hype around generative AI was immense, with companies like Microsoft making bold claims about AI's potential. However, results were disappointing for many early adopters, with ROI being uncertain.

According to Forrester’s Q2 AI Pulse Survey, many organizations anticipate seeing ROI within one to three years, while others expect a longer timeline. Despite financial constraints, companies have started to recognize tangible benefits of AI. In August, Google Cloud reported that 70% of UK firms observed positive ROI from AI. Promising use cases include customer service and digital commerce. A study by Microsoft and IDC noted AI's potential ROI of $3. 70 per dollar invested, with decreasing deployment times and quicker ROI realization. Looking forward, new trends like agentic AI are emerging. Salesforce, with its Agentforce service, illustrates this shift, where AI agents perform tasks for humans, sparking both excitement and concern. As enterprises begin to realize AI’s value, navigating these new developments will be challenging yet enticing for tech leaders.