Bridging the AI Implementation Gap: Ozan Ozerk's Practical Guide for CEOs

Artificial intelligence promises to reshape industries, yet many organizations find themselves stalled between ambition and execution. In his latest Forbes Finance Council article, Ozan Ozerk clarifies why the disconnect between AI hype and practical implementation persists - and outlines actionable steps leaders can take today.

Despite the widespread belief that AI will transform business, many executives hesitate to deploy it at scale. Internal challenges, entrenched processes, and concerns about disruption often slow progress. Ozerk highlights that the real challenge isn't the technology itself - it's how companies prepare their people, processes, and governance systems to absorb it.

Understanding the Implementation Gap
Ozerk notes that executives frequently face conflicting pressures: they must signal innovation to investors while avoiding missteps that could disrupt operations. This tension creates hesitancy, especially in larger organizations burdened by legacy systems and entrenched decision-making. Smaller startups, by contrast, can integrate AI from the ground up. That said, established companies need not wait on the sidelines, there's a middle path.

For CEOs committed to realizing real value from AI, Ozerk recommends five foundational steps:
1. Reduce Barriers and Expand Participation
Instead of imposing AI from the top down, leaders should involve employees in the planning and experimentation process. Bringing people along builds insight and reduces resistance.
2. Recognize the Human Impact
AI affects roles and workflows at every level. Executives must address sensitivities around job changes openly and thoughtfully, ensuring reskilling, clear career pathways, and humane approaches to role transitions.
3. Stay Current with Rapid Developments
The pace of AI innovation is fast. Ozerk stresses the importance of dedicated teams empowered to explore emerging applications. An initiative that seems infeasible today might become viable tomorrow, and leaders should prepare to adapt.
4. Build an Internal AI Supply Chain
Treat AI not as a single project but as an ecosystem with dependencies - data, governance, risk controls, and specialist roles all play a part. Clear ownership, robust oversight, and structured paths from prototype to production are essential to avoid isolated, disconnected efforts.
5. Create Clear Decision Frameworks
Successful AI adoption requires clarity about who owns outcomes, monitors performance, and manages risk. Well-defined governance prevents rogue deployments and ensures experiments scale responsibly.
Ozerk emphasizes that doing nothing isn't a viable strategy; neither is pursuing every emerging tool without structure. By taking measured, strategic steps, organizations can begin to close the AI implementation gap and turn potential into measurable impact.

As enterprises evaluate how best to integrate AI into their operations, these pragmatic insights offer leaders a balanced framework for action, one that aligns innovation with organizational readiness and long-term results.
Read the full article on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2025/12/29/practical-ai-for-ceos-minding-the-implementation-gap

Contact Person: Dr. Ozan Ozerk
Email: info@ozanozerk.com
Country: United Kingdom
Address: The Bower, 207-211 Old Street, London, England, EC1V 9NR, UK
Website: https://www.ozanozerk.com/

Dr. Ozan Ozerk, born in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1979 and raised in Norway by academic parents specializing in education and learning disabilities, has built a remarkable career bridging medicine, technology, and finance. After serving as a Norwegian Armed Forces Ranger and completing medical school at the University of Oslo (2000-2008), he co-founded the pioneering social network Biip.no in 2005, which was acquired by Egmont and Nettavisen for over 100 million krone in 2008.

Following years as an emergency room doctor until 2015, he pivoted to fintech, establishing a portfolio of successful ventures. A Forbes Finance Council member since 2021, Dr. Ozerk is recognized as a fintech pioneer and advocate for financial inclusion, frequently sharing his insights on the industry's future through interviews and opinion pieces.

This release was published on openPR.