Only 1% of Companies Master AI: Altimetrik CEO on Building AI-First Organizations

Raj Sundaresan: Why Most Companies Fail at AI

AI Journal recently published a byline by our CEO, Raj Sundaresan, titled “Only 1% of Companies Are Getting AI Right. Here’s What They’re Doing.”

In the article, Raj emphasizes that while 78% of enterprises use AI, only 1% have truly mastered it. The difference lies in becoming AI-first—designing systems for intelligence rather than layering AI on top of fragmented operations. He highlights three critical choices that separate AI-first organizations:

• Foundation before applications: Building unified, intelligence-ready operations that eliminate inefficiencies and enable scalable AI adoption.
• Toolbox over tools: Treating AI as a systematic capability through platforms that power multiple applications, creating network effects.
• Measuring capability, not just efficiency: Tracking metrics like operational velocity and adaptive capacity to unlock new business models and better decision-making.

By making these choices, AI-first companies achieve sustainable competitive advantage, positioning themselves ahead of the curve as generative AI becomes mainstream.