It is time to do more than simply experiment with ChatGPT. AI must become a central part of business strategy for companies to remain competitive in the global innovation race. For Norway in particular, this is why the results of a 2025 survey by Konsulentguiden are alarming: only 5 percent of Norwegian businesses have successfully scaled AI solutions. That is a very small number.
The survey paints a clear picture. Most large Norwegian companies are still in the early stages of AI adoption. As many as 42 percent have limited their efforts to experimenting with simple AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot, while 16 percent have not started at all.
Only one in ten businesses currently has AI solutions in production, and just 5 percent have entered a scaling phase with several AI solutions in operation. In other words, most companies are still only experimenting with the technology.
Time to wake up from the hype
Is anyone concerned? They should be. Artificial intelligence is no longer a niche experiment, it is fundamental to value creation. It matters as much for sustainable business development as it does for competitiveness. After last year’s AI hype, when ChatGPT brought AI into the mainstream, I hoped curiosity would lead to concrete action. But that has not happened. Instead, many companies remain stuck in a “sandbox” phase, running ad hoc experiments. The fact that only 5 percent of businesses have scaled AI suggests that Norwegian companies risk falling behind unless their approach changes. This is a warning other countries should take seriously as well.
The problems faced
Why is progress so slow? The survey highlights several structural barriers holding back AI adoption:
• Lack of competence: The biggest challenge, cited by 44 percent of businesses.
• Limited capacity and resources: Reported by 31 percent.
• Low trust in the technology: Identified by 19 percent.
• Unclear internal ownership: Reported by over 15 percent, with no clear responsibility for AI, not even among senior leaders.
The consequences of these barriers are reflected in the results. A total of 38 percent of businesses have not yet seen any benefits from their AI efforts. Almost as many as those reporting increased efficiency (39 percent) say they have seen no effect at all. This gap shows that without sufficient competence, resources and leadership commitment, AI projects stagnate and potential gains are lost.
What should lagging businesses do? Five concrete AI tips
1) Leadership must step up: AI needs a clear place in company strategy and governance. Today, only about half of companies have an AI strategy, and even fewer have integrated AI into their business strategy. This must change.
2) Build competence and capability: Invest in training employees to understand and master AI tools beyond the basics. Offer internal courses, support further education in data analytics and machine learning, and bring in external expertise when necessary.
3) Establish structure and governance: Define clear guidelines for risk, ethics and quality assurance. When employees see that AI is used responsibly, trust and acceptance grow.
4) Move from pilot to production: Many organisations remain in the pilot phase because no one takes ownership of scaling solutions. Be adaptable, learn from experiments, but be ready to roll out what works.
5) Ensure strategic anchoring: Technology evolves quickly, and successful companies foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation. AI is not a one off project.
A clear signal to businesses
The figures from Konsulentguiden 2025 send a clear message: Norwegian companies, and those in other markets who are similarly behind, must leave the AI sandbox now. It is time to move from experimentation to serious structured adoption.