AI adoption has to be driven from the top – LeadDev
March 11, 2026
While researching my AI strategy book, it became clear that the complexities of data integration and the expense of AI sprawl means AI policies and intentions must be set and communicated from the top. That doesn’t mean an AI mandate, but ensuring everyone knows why any AI tool is important to the business.
“Make sure the ‘why’ of your AI rollout is clear, and repeat it until everyone on your team knows it by heart,” a recent report by Multitudes advises.
It’s not uncommon to see research suggest that at least enterprise adoption of AI technologies falls far short of the breathless promises we hear from CEOs at their keynotes.
In a just published paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research
over 80% of firms reporting no impact on either employment or productivity
.
And yet, at least anecdotally, developers individually report enormous increases in their productivity. So what is going on? And how can organizations adopt these technologies in ways that do deliver on the promises?
At the Lead Dev Jennifer Riggins argues “AI adoption has to be driven from the top, not by mandate, but clear leadership and guidance over why AI is being adopted.”
