How to Achieve Concrete Results in AI Deployment? A Framework and Learnings from Industry-Leading Companies

Interest in AI has grown dramatically in the last few years, but peer-reviewed research on AI deployment in companies is still scarce. The extant few academic articles indicate that AI deployment is still at the early stages in firms. In this research, we build on semistructured interviews of chief information officers and study the AI deployment of international stock-listed companies. We draw from the abductive analysis and the Dynamic Capabilities view to develop and explain the findings. The results demonstrate that companies are at very different stages of deployment. We identify and define eight capabilities explaining the differences between companies. We propose a novel comprehensive AI Deployment Capability Framework as a theoretical basis and guide to building AI capabilities in companies. The results help companies holistically develop and deploy their capabilities, focus on critical areas, and address obstacles to utilizing data and AI to improve their productivity and competitiveness.