McKinsey executive: AI boosts individual work but stalls at the top

While employees are increasingly leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Claude to streamline daily tasks, many corporations are mismanaging the transition. Early efforts often focused on maximizing token usage without regard for costs or strategic alignment. According to McKinsey’s QuantumBlack division, 80% of surveyed workers report higher personal productivity, yet the share of companies attributing core profit growth to AI has remained flat at 37% over the past year.

The disconnect persists because companies are often treating AI as a plug-in rather than a structural catalyst. Kutcher notes that tangible gains are currently confined to specific pockets, such as software development, where AI-generated code accelerates product release cycles. To capture broader institutional value, he suggests that firms must abandon piecemeal experimentation in favor of end-to-end operational overhauls. As businesses shift from pilot programs to scaling, the challenge lies in re-engineering core processes—such as research protocols in life sciences or drilling techniques in energy—rather than simply asking staff to use more software.