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Applied AI·May 31, 2026·1 min read

AI adoption follows the J-curve path of general-purpose tech, like early US factory electrification, requiring years of investment before noticeable ROI gains (Exponential View)

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If AI follows the electrification J-curve, your P&L will look worse before it looks better — the real returns show up only after you re-architect workflows, org design, and data plumbing, not after a few pilots. Treat 2026–2028 as infrastructure and process rewiring years, not as the period where AI line items must already be margin accretive.