A small group has figured out how to turn AI into measurable business value. And they’re doing the same three things:

1. They buy instead of build

The top performers aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. They’re partnering with vendors who already have the tech, then customizing it to fit their processes. MIT found that external partnerships are twice as likely to succeed as internal builds.

Why? Because internal teams often get bogged down in complexity, approvals, and “innovation theater.” The successful ones buy systems that already work, plug them in fast, and focus on integration and outcomes, not perfection.

At Jetpacks They Said, we like to call this “progress over purity.” You don’t have to own the tech to win with it—you just have to use it better.

2. They let managers drive

The most successful organizations don’t wait for a central AI task force to bless every project. They give line managers the freedom to test, learn, and adapt. These are the people who know where the pain points really are.

MIT’s research showed that the best implementations often start with everyday employees who were already experimenting with AI tools on their own. Once those early adopters were given official support and a budget, things started moving—fast.

In short: trust the people closest to the work. They know what’s broken. They’ll fix it faster than a steering committee ever could.

3. They pick tools that get smarter over time

Most AI tools are like goldfish—they forget everything the moment you close the window. The organizations crossing the AI divide choose systems that remember, learn, and adapt.

These learning-capable systems don’t just generate outputs; they evolve with your workflows. They get better every week. They can recognize context, build memory, and connect across tools.

MIT calls this the move toward the “agentic web,” a layer of connected systems that act, coordinate, and improve together. That’s the future of enterprise AI—and it’s already here for the companies bold enough to try it.

The takeaway

The AI divide isn’t about access to technology. It’s about how you use it. The winners are choosing speed over control, empowerment over centralization, and adaptability over flash.

They buy instead of build. They trust their managers. They pick tools that get better with time.

Everyone else is still talking about pilots.