A recent Microsoft Research study on the occupational implications of generative AI uncovered an important insight for enterprise leaders: In 40% of workplace AI interactions, what the AI actually does (the “AI action”) is completely different from what the human user intended to achieve (the “user goal”).

This gap between AI intention and AI output — what we at TeKnowledge call the AI Execution Gap — is a hidden productivity drain that limits AI adoption, ROI, and business impact.

Why the AI Execution Gap Matters

Generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and other enterprise AI assistants are powerful, but if they don’t directly complete the intended task, organizations face:

• Slower project delivery as employees finish what AI started
• Lower AI ROI due to inconsistent business outcomes
• Adoption challenges as teams lose trust in AI recommendations

For example, an employee might ask AI to “design a complete social media campaign” — but receive only examples and ideas, not an execution-ready campaign plan. Helpful? Yes. But still requiring manual effort to bridge the gap.

How to Close the AI Execution Gap

The Microsoft AI research reinforces what we’ve seen in the field: closing the gap between AI actions and business goals is essential for scaling enterprise AI transformation.

At TeKnowledge, our AI-First Expert Technology Services are built to deliver AI outcomes that are:

• Aligned – AI outputs match business goals through clear governance
• Integrated – AI is embedded into workflows, reducing manual handoffs
• Actionable – Teams are trained to prompt and refine AI for execution-ready results
• Secure – AI adoption is safeguarded with enterprise-grade cybersecurity, compliance, and risk  management
• Optimized – AI performance is continuously monitored and improved

Turning AI Potential into Measurable ROI

Without a deliberate execution strategy, enterprises risk widening the AI execution gap — adopting AI without realizing its full value. With the right approach, you can:

• Increase AI adoption rates
• Deliver measurable productivity gains
• Improve decision-making with AI-driven insights
• Maximize your return on AI investment — securely

Read the full Microsoft Research paper here to understand the data behind this insight, and connect with TeKnowledge to ensure your AI strategy delivers on its promise — securely, at scale, every time.