The Consulting Con: Why Your AI Project Didn't Deliver

Cloud Computing Insider

For years, the world's biggest consulting firms have promised to usher in an age of AI-powered business transformation. But behind the glossy sales decks and polished prototypes, a harsh reality has emerged: most consulting-led AI projects are missing the mark. Executives are routinely dazzled with demos and sophisticated jargon—but left with little to show for massive investments. The core issue? Large consultancies routinely push technology-first solutions without deeply engaging with a client's actual business challenges. Cookie-cutter approaches, misaligned incentives, and a focus on upselling the latest AI tools lead to projects that impress on the surface yet fail to deliver lasting impact. Instead of enabling true change, these projects often stall in pilot mode or solve problems that weren't priorities in the first place. The real fix is simple but radical: consulting needs to ditch the hype, listen to business leaders, and deliver solutions rooted in real business value—not just trending tech. In this video, we pull back the curtain on how big consulting is sabotaging enterprise AI and what organizations must demand to ensure their AI investments pay off.