AI Profit, Not Pilots: Lessons from Tech, Media and Telecom

AI is no longer a technology experiment—it’s a business imperative. Val Elbert, a member of BCG’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice, explains why CEOs must shift from AI pilots to profit, demand quarterly results from all AI initiatives, and lead cross-functional AI transformations that deliver real bottom-line impact. The winners will scale fast. The rest will be left explaining themselves to investors.

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Val Elbert, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner, https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/val-elbert

As AI Investments Surge, CEOs Take the Lead, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/as-ai-investments-surge-ceos-take-the-lead

Turning AI Disruption into a Telco's Growth Engine, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/turning-ai-disruption-into-telcos-growth-engine

Driving Growth and Innovation at Verizon Consumer Group, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/driving-growth-innovation-leading-telco

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 00:44 Where TMT companies stand on AI adoption

02:32 The boardroom shift from AI pilots to scale

03:11 Building AI into business agendas

03:49 AI adoption patterns across industries 0

4:37 Leaders need to see quarterly results

05:22 Why AI can't run as a three-year program

05:59 What separates AI winners

07:22 Why structure needs to change

07:52 Where friction blocks AI value creation

09:19 How to focus amid technology noise

10:00 The mindset shift to move from AI pilots to P&L

10:30 What scaling AI in telecom looks like

12:08 The role of humans in an AI-driven operating model

13:28 What the next 18 months will look like

13:55 Will AI drive mergers?

15:10 Is It harder for legacy companies to compete in AI?

15:36 How AI-driven change will impact consumers

16:44 If you're stuck in the pilot phase

17:45 Physical AI at MWC Barcelona

18:11 Outro

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