AI delivers ‘zero financial payoff’ to most companies, Apollo economist says
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"Despite massive investments and widespread hype around artificial intelligence, the technology has delivered zero financial payoff to corporate America outside of tech."
The one-panel cartoon
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A corporate meeting room with a large screen displaying a pie chart titled 'AI Financial Impact', showing a tiny sliver labeled 'Tech Companies' and the rest labeled 'Zero Payoff'. The room is filled with puzzled-looking executives and empty coffee cups.
Caption: AI: The Future Is Nowhere Near Here
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on techcrunch.com.
Editor's note
Who knew that AI would end up being a zero-sum game for most companies outside of Silicon Valley? It’s like investing in a robot that only tells you how many socks you have; fancy, but not exactly a cash cow.
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Read the script
Panel 1
(a) The subject of the story is artificial intelligence (AI) and its financial impact on companies outside the tech industry. Despite significant investment and hype, AI has not delivered any financial benefits to these companies. (b) The real irony is that while AI is hyped as a revolutionary technology capable of driving significant financial gains, it has actually been a zero-sum game for most non-tech companies. (c) The highlight: A CEO sitting in a boardroom, surrounded by AI models and futuristic tech, declaring that AI has been nothing but an expensive toy.
Panel 2
*Setting: A sleek, modern boardroom with a large glass table and high-tech displays on the walls.* *Scene: A corporate CEO sits at the head of the table, looking over a stack of financial reports. The room is filled with AI models and futuristic devices, but the CEO looks increasingly puzzled and frustrated.* CEO (to a subordinate)
CEO: So, tell me again why we spent millions on AI?
Panel 3
*Setting: The same boardroom, with a few more AI devices and data screens displaying graphs and charts.* *Scene: The subordinate, equally confused, points to a large display showing a flat financial line and a downward trend. The CEO sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.*
Subordinate: Well, it’s supposed to revolutionize business and cut costs, sir. We just haven’t seen the returns yet.
Panel 4
*Setting: The same boardroom, now with a mockup of an AI mascot wearing a clown hat and holding a piggy bank with a zero on it.* *Scene: The CEO stares at the AI mascot, a look of resignation and bemusement on his face. He picks up the piggy bank and tosses it across the room in frustration, landing it with a clatter on a stack of unused AI devices.*
CEO: At least this guy looks happy with zero financial payoff.
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