Why I think most AI projects fail before they're even built
After talking with founders over the past few months, I've noticed the same pattern.
Everyone wants to "use AI."
But when I ask what problem they're trying to solve, the answer is usually vague.
So they subscribe to ChatGPT, try a few AI tools, maybe build a chatbot... and a month later, nothing has changed.
Their team is still copying data between apps.
Still sending manual follow-ups.
Still doing repetitive work.
The problem wasn't a lack of AI.
It was a lack of strategy.
I've found it's much more effective to start by asking:
- Which repetitive tasks consume the most hours?
- Which processes create the most delays or errors?
- Where would automation save time every single day?
Once you identify those, AI becomes much easier to justify and much more likely to deliver ROI.
Curious how others here approach this.
Do you start with the technology, or with the business problem?
Posted Jul 8, 2026, 9:32 AM UTC