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Whack-a-Mole, AI Pilots, and the Process Lens: Why 95% of AI Projects Fail

Russell Gomersall & Caspar Jans Season 4 Episode 2

 In this episode, Caspar and Russell kick things off with Russell’s mole invasion at home (a perfect metaphor for stubborn BPM stakeholders who pop up where you least want them). From there, they dive deep into why so many AI pilots collapse before reaching scale, and how process management must act as the “guide rails” for AI to deliver real business value. Expect analogies from mountain bike races, a Dunning-Kruger reality check, and a candid discussion on why “there is no AI without PI.” 

 🔑 5 Most Interesting Takeaways 

  1. Moles = Stakeholders → Resistant people in BPM projects behave like moles: they vanish when you need them and resurface in the worst places. Don’t take it personally—understand their nature.
  2. AI Pilots Often Fail → Up to 95% of AI pilots collapse because they chase hype, lack governance, and don’t connect to core business processes.
  3. Process Intelligence Is Essential → “No AI without PI”: AI must be guided by process context (process mining + management) to be sustainable and compliant.
  4. Agility Over Perfection → Unlike traditional IT rollouts, AI requires iterative testing and adaptation—the tech evolves too fast for one-off pilots.
  5. Humans Still Matter → While AI can optimize structured, system-based steps (like purchase-to-pay), the “black spots” where human judgment rules remain the biggest opportunity—and risk.

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