- AI saves about 2.8% of work hours in real-world settings, but these time savings rarely translate into higher earnings or profits.
- Task-specific AI gains are substantial (e.g., 40% faster writing, 14% more issues resolved per hour), but they shrink when applied across entire jobs due to tasks AI can't handle and verification overhead.
- AI's competence is 'jagged'; it performs well on structured tasks like writing and customer support but fails confidently on tasks outside its range, leading to costly errors.
- Only 3-7% of productivity gains from AI reach workers' pay, with most organizations seeing zero return on investment despite significant spending.
- To capture AI's value, focus it on high-volume, repeatable tasks it excels at, avoid using it outside its strengths, and deliberately convert saved time into revenue or cost savings.