Citi Institute: nearly 60% of firms still stuck in AI pilots
By Rohit SharmaMarkets Analyst, Peepals Business
Representative image: u_rffnzzbgba / Pixabay
A Citi Institute report published around October 28, 2026 found nearly 60% of organisations still exploring or piloting AI, with about 40% in production.
What Happened
Nearly 60% of organisations have not yet taken artificial intelligence beyond the exploration or pilot stage, according to a report by the Citi Institute, the research arm of Citigroup, published around October 28, 2026. Only about 40% of the organisations surveyed have moved AI into production or are scaling it across their business. The report says the main obstacle is enterprise-wide deployment, and that success depends less on access to AI models than on proprietary data, expertise and building AI into core operations. North America leads, with 77% of surveyed organisations in production or scaling, while Asia Pacific is still mostly exploring and piloting.
Key Facts
- Report: Citi Institute, published around October 28, 2026.
- Nearly 60% of surveyed organisations are still exploring AI or running pilots.
- About 40% have moved AI into production or are scaling it.
- Main barrier: enterprise-wide deployment, not access to AI models.
- Success factors named: proprietary data, expertise and embedding AI into core operations.
- By region: North America leads at 77% in production or scaling; Europe is in between; Asia Pacific is mostly at the exploration and pilot stage.
- Value: about 60% of firms in production or scaling reported value creation above 15%, through lower costs, higher employee productivity or revenue growth.
- Task automation remains the most common use of AI.
Why It Matters
The Citi Institute's findings show that for most of them this still means experiments. A pilot is a small trial, often in one team or for one task. Moving to production means making AI part of everyday operations, with real data, real customers and real accountability. That step is harder because it requires clean data, changes to how people work, security checks and investment in systems that connect AI tools to the rest of the business.
The gap between pilots and production matters because the benefits appear only at scale. The report found that around 60% of firms that had moved AI into production or were scaling it reported more than 15% value creation, whether through cost savings, productivity or new revenue. Firms stuck in pilots spend money and time without capturing those gains.
The regional picture is also important for India. Asia Pacific, which includes India, is described as mostly still exploring and piloting, well behind North America. For Indian companies, it points to both a risk of falling behind and an opportunity for IT services firms that help businesses move AI from pilot to production.
The finding that proprietary data and expertise matter more than access to models has a practical meaning. The report suggests what separates successful companies is the quality of their own data and their ability to redesign processes around AI.
| Finding | Figure |
|---|---|
| Organisations still exploring or piloting | Nearly 60% |
| Organisations in production or scaling | About 40% |
| North America in production or scaling | 77% |
| Scaling firms reporting value above 15% | About 60% |
Impact
Short-term: Companies still running pilots may face pressure from boards and investors to show results, increasing demand for data engineering, integration and change-management services.
Long-term: The gap between firms that scale AI and those that do not could widen, affecting their competitiveness. Regions that move faster from pilots to production may gain a productivity edge.
Who is affected: Business leaders and technology teams deciding on AI investment; IT services firms and consultants; employees whose work is being automated or augmented; and investors judging companies' AI strategies.
Key Takeaway
A Citi Institute report published around October 28, 2026 found that nearly 60% of organisations are still exploring or piloting AI, with only about 40% in production or scaling, and named enterprise-wide deployment as the main barrier.
Questions and Answers
How many companies have moved AI beyond pilots, according to Citi?
The Citi Institute report found that about 40% of surveyed organisations have moved AI into production or are scaling it, while nearly 60% are still exploring or running pilots.
What is stopping companies from scaling AI?
The report identifies enterprise-wide deployment as the main challenge and says success depends on proprietary data, expertise and integrating AI into core operations rather than on access to models.
Which region leads in AI adoption, according to the report?
North America leads, with 77% of surveyed organisations in production or scaling. Asia Pacific is still mostly exploring and piloting, and Europe is in between.
Do companies that scale AI see benefits?
About 60% of firms in production or scaling reported value creation above 15%, through cost reduction, employee productivity or revenue growth.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rohit Sharma, Markets AnalystCovers Markets Watch and more for Peepals Business. All stories by Rohit Sharma
Avendus: $3 trillion AI cycle opens six manufacturing sectors for India
Vedanta Oil and Gas share price jumps up to 18% as Q2 EBITDA rises 34%
Get the day's stories in your inbox
Peepals Weekly: the week decoded, free. One email a week, unsubscribe in one click.
Rohit Sharma is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
