Most AI transformation efforts don’t fail because of bad models. They fail because the problem was never clearly defined. Teams start with tools, vendors, and architectures before agreeing on what decision actually needs to improve. As a result, AI gets layered on top of broken processes and inherits all their flaws, only faster. A proper AI assessment does not begin with “what can AI do for us?” but with “where do we lose leverage today?” Strategy comes before automation. Otherwise, you’re not transforming the business. You’re accelerating existing inefficiencies with better math.