Carbon Frames Don't Win Races: Why AI Doesn't Replace Infrastructure
Every pitch deck in fintech now contains one identical slide. Around page 6, an AI assistant appears, smiling in a chat bubble, eager to "transform the customer experience." I have sat through many of these decks, even built a few myself, and I have come to a simple conclusion: the assistant is never the reason a product wins or loses. The rails underneath it are.
A Deloitte report says that 85% of companies boosted their AI spending in 2025. However, BCG found that just 5% of the companies they surveyed can point to real financial returns. That gap is the whole story.
The Fastest Bike Doesn't Win the Race
The same issue applies to many areas of life. Take cycling, for instance: beginners aspiring to become professionals invest in a $12,000 carbon fiber frame, hoping that fancy bike will bring them faster results. However, real performance comes right after you...
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