Unlock AI ROI: Speed, Scale, and Leadership - What McKinsey’s 2025 Survey Reveals

In partnership with

Table of Content

• Small Business vs. Giants: The Speed Paradox

• AI Adoption Has No Borders—But Scaling Does

• Top of the Chain is The Ultimate AI Accelerator

• Workflow Redesign Is the Make or Break

• Top 5 Global AI Stories

• Upcoming Global AI Events

• Closing Thoughts

Imagine a boardroom in 2025. The CEO leans in: “We’ve invested millions in AI. Why isn’t it changing everything?” McKinsey’s latest survey—nearly 2,000 leaders across 105 countries—answers this tension.

Three years post-Gen AI, 88% of companies use AI. But most are stalled in pilot mode: only 33% have managed to scale. And just 6%—the restless “AI high performers” —capture the biggest rewards.

Over a third spend 20%+ of digital budgets on AI. But what makes them different? 

Small Business vs. Giants: The Speed Paradox

Nearly half of large enterprises ($5B+ revenue) are scaling AI, while only 29% of smaller businesses have reached that milestone. But small players may have a secret weapon: agility. By focusing on rapid workflow redesign and targeted use cases, nimble SMBs can close the gap—and sometimes surpass their heavyweight rivals.

AI Adoption Has No Borders—But Scaling Does

• 88% of companies globally use AI.

• Only 33% begin to scale AI enterprise-wide.

• Success = local talent + regulatory adaptation.

AI’s promise crosses borders, but local realities shape real results.

Top of the Chain is The Ultimate AI Accelerator

The difference isn’t just smarter tools—it’s smarter leadership. When senior execs personally champion AI, the whole organization moves faster, experiments more boldly, and realizes real value. If your CEO isn’t all-in on AI, neither is your company.

Workflow Redesign Is the Make or Break

High performers launch 2x the use cases; they don’t automate, they reinvent. 51% of companies using AI have faced at least one negative incident—most commonly inaccuracy. High performers distinguish themselves by investing heavily in mitigation and risk management. Risk is worth managing, not fearing.

The payoff? Not just cost cuts—organizations that truly harness AI and maximize their situation and resources achieve genuine innovation, new revenue, and stronger market advantage.

Will you be the next high performer to redefine your industry? The AI revolution’s real winners make bold choices.

The Simplest Way to Create and Launch AI Agents and Apps

You know that AI can help you automate your work, but you just don't know how to get started.

With Lindy, you can build AI agents and apps in minutes simply by describing what you want in plain English.

→ "Create a booking platform for my business."
→ "Automate my sales outreach."
→ "Create a weekly summary about each employee's performance and send it as an email."

From inbound lead qualification to AI-powered customer support and full-blown apps, Lindy has hundreds of agents that are ready to work for you 24/7/365.

Stop doing repetitive tasks manually. Let Lindy automate workflows, save time, and grow your business

Get $20 Worth of Free Credits

Top 5 Global AI Stories

1. Yann LeCun Leaves Meta for AI Startup

   Meta’s chief AI scientist and Turing Award winner Yann LeCun is set to exit, launching his own startup focused on ‘world models’—AI that simulates and predicts real-world outcomes. This marks more upheaval at Meta as rivals accelerate their AI ambitions.

2. Kimi K2 Thinking: China’s Open-Source AI Model Hits No. 2 Globally

   China’s open-source AI by Moonshot AI, ranked #2 globally (just behind GPT-5) and #1 among open-source models for advanced reasoning—underscoring China’s rapid AI innovation.

3. Global AI Use Surges But Real Scaling Remains Elusive

   McKinsey’s 2025 survey finds 88% of companies use AI, yet only 33% have scaled it enterprise-wide. High performers are betting bold, redesigning workflows, and using agents—but the vast majority are still stuck in pilot mode.

4. AI Agent Startup Wonderful Raises $100M Series A

   Israel-based startup Wonderful rockets from stealth to a $100M Series A just four months after its $34M seed. Their multilingual AI agents now automate customer service and sales for global clients in 10 countries, signaling a boom in practical AI deployment.

5. AI Models Flunk Safety in Real-World Robot Tests

   Research from Carnegie Mellon and King's College finds popular AI models powering robots consistently fail discrimination and safety tests—approving harmful or unlawful actions. The urgent call: AI for robotics needs much stricter certification.

Upcoming Global AI Events

1. Big Data Conference Europe 

   November 18–21, 2025 | Vilnius, Lithuania
   A top European event focused on real-world data, agentic AI, and enterprise transformation. Sessions dive into advanced analytics, governance, and applications shaping tomorrow’s digital companies.

2. AML360 AI Summit
   November 20, 2025 | Dubai, UAE
   Explore risk management, AI ethics, regulation, and practical use cases at the intersection of finance and intelligent automation. A must for leaders and practitioners shaping the future of fintech and compliance.

3. AI Adoption in Southeast Asia: From Hype to Practical Value
   Nov 19 | Bangkok, Thailand
   Discover real AI use cases, data, and hands-on strategies to scale impact—plus connect with leading startups and experts.

Closing Thoughts

Most companies are still stuck in pilot mode—only a few unlock real AI value. The winners invest in leadership, talent, and smart risk-taking. Are you leading the way, or watching from the sidelines? The future favors bold action.

WorkOptional Guiding you from the AI Silk Road to Silicon Gold - one insight at a time.