Industry event | From AI buzz to business value? How AI can improve business performance - 23 Apr 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely expected to enhance business performance by reshaping competitive dynamics and redistributing market value. Companies investing in AI aim to secure strategic advantages, whether through cost leadership, product differentiation, or superior decision-making. Early adopters are assumed to gain a “data advantage,” enabling stronger market positioning. As AI adoption expands, firms that successfully integrate it into their strategies could disrupt industry leaders that fail to adapt.
Yet, despite its potential, most companies struggle to move beyond pilot projects and unlock AI’s full value. Adoption remains uneven, with limited evidence linking AI investments to long-term financial performance. Many organizations face significant technological and operational hurdles, making it difficult to sustain an AI-based edge. Even at a macro level, productivity growth has yet to reflect the surge in AI investment.
If AI is the key to competitive advantage, why do so few firms see measurable returns? What separates successful AI adopters from those failing to translate investment into performance gains? And how can leaders ensure AI delivers lasting strategic impact rather than just short-term experimentation?
This seminar will explore why AI’s impact remains elusive and how companies can overcome barriers to achieve real competitive advantages. The seminar will feature a combination of research-driven insights and practical discussions, where we will present research findings and translate them into actionable strategies for business leaders. Attendees will gain both a high-level understanding of AI’s potential and concrete steps to harness its value.
Through expert insights and practical discussions, we will:
- Examine AI’s technological foundations and how they shape business applications.
- Identify key enablers and obstacles affecting AI’s influence on firm performance.
- Explore the different ways AI can drive performance improvements, from efficiency gains to market differentiation.
- Provide actionable solutions to the challenges outlined in our research questions.
This event is designed for business leaders, strategists, and professionals looking to understand how AI can drive tangible results. Whether you are exploring AI adoption, optimizing existing AI initiatives, or seeking a competitive edge, this seminar will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to make AI work for your business.
Natalie M. Aleksić is a third-year PhD student at Stockholm School of Economics, House of Innovation. She graduated with distinction from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, is an affiliated PhD student at the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems, and Software Program – Humanities and Social Sciences (WASP-HS) and a business development consultat at KTH AI Society. Her research focuses on the organizational adoption of artificial intelligence and its impact on strategy and firm performance.
Pär Åhlström is Professor of Operations Management at Stockholm School of Economics, where he also serves as Vice President Degree Programs. He has over 25 years of experience of researching how firms improve their value-adding processes. He is the author of the management best-seller “This is Lean: Resolving the Efficiency Paradox” which is available in 15 languages. He serves on the board of Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) and Institute of Management of Innovation and Technology (IMIT). He is member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) and an Honorary Fellow of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA).
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