Kurt Yáñez, AI Business Developer for Dell Technologies, poses a crucial question: Is Artificial Intelligence a bubble ready to burst? As one of the leaders in the digital transformation of companies in Mexico, Yáñez analyzes the challenges and opportunities that AI faces in the business field.
“A recent MIT study revealed that more than 90% of organizations have failed to obtain a return on investment in AI projects,” said Yáñez during his participation in the Forbes 2025 Business and Economy Forum. In his presentation, he explained the main obstacles that companies face when trying to integrate AI into their processes.
“It’s relatively easy to experiment, but it’s difficult to deploy,” he said. According to the expert, many organizations fail to implement these technologies on a large scale because they neglect key aspects such as observability, security and scalability. “Initial tests are often promising, but when deployed, they forget these essential elements,” he added.
Yáñez highlighted that one of the most common mistakes is exploring processes without knowing the key performance indicators (KPI), which generates additional problems, higher costs and lack of effective solutions. “Do not invent solutions for non-existent problems. Identify the real business problem, the underlying process and the KPI. Only then can AI be a useful tool,” he recommended.
AI, according to Yáñez, has the potential to transform the competitiveness of emerging countries. A notable example is Uruguay, which adopted new technologies from the beginning and today is a benchmark in the region, along with Chile and Brazil. This approach has allowed Uruguay to reach a GDP per capita of $18,845 and position itself as a key provider of human talent in this technological revolution, thanks to its high generation of data scientists.
Yáñez stressed: “In Mexico we must invest in productivity to create a more attractive market.” Likewise, he clarified that AI should be seen as a tool to expand human capabilities. “We cannot exclude people from the process; we need technology to enhance their skills,” he emphasized.
Yáñez added: “We are excellent at manufacturing cars and appliances. Now we need to be just as good at managing data and training talent in the right disciplines for the AI era.” To achieve this, he proposed a tripartite collaboration between the private initiative, the educational sector and the different levels of government.
AI, according to Yáñez, has the potential to reduce task execution times by between 20% and 40%, while human capabilities supported by AI can be doubled. “One hundred years ago, there were people who emptied latrines with wheelbarrows. Today those tasks no longer exist. The same will happen with repetitive activities such as filling out Excel tables. Our responsibility as companies, society and academia is to equip our human talent with the necessary tools to stay relevant,” he concluded.
