2025-04-23 –, Zeiss Plenary (Spectrum)
Why do AI projects fail? Spoiler: It’s rarely about the technology. Organizations often stumble over unrealistic expectations, siloed data, and cultural roadblocks. This talk dives into the human and organizational dynamics that cause AI initiatives to derail.
Using real-world examples, I’ll showcase how missing tram stop location data was found on a hobbyist’s blog when official systems failed. Or how critical historical data for resource planning sat locked in Excel files with forgotten passwords, forcing a desperate password recovery operation. These examples highlight the surprising ways poor data governance and lack of interdisciplinary collaboration sabotage even well-intentioned AI projects.
But all is not lost! We’ll explore actionable strategies to navigate these challenges: shifting from shiny tools to R&D-driven approaches, fostering better communication between IT and business teams, and building strong foundations for clean, accessible data. Attendees will leave with insights into what AI success truly requires: cultural readiness, realistic expectations, and a commitment to collaboration.
If you’re tired of AI hype and looking for practical solutions, this talk offers a clear roadmap to ensure AI projects deliver measurable impact.
Why do AI projects fail? Spoiler: It’s rarely about the technology. The real barriers are organizational, cultural, and human. In this talk, we’ll uncover the reasons AI initiatives stumble and explore how to overcome them—through a mix of anecdotes, real-world failures, and actionable best practices.
We begin with a big lamenti—an unfiltered dive into the messy, chaotic world of AI project implementation. From tangled data silos to misaligned expectations, we’ll uncover hard truths through real-world examples that many will recognize:
• The missing data problem: Sometimes it’s the smallest datasets that hold the biggest answers.
• Passwords might be in retirement.
• Decisions in the dark: When untrained people must make calls on things they don’t fully understand.
• The shiny facade: Expectations, the pressure for quick wins, and the relentless demand for good news.
To go beyond personal experience, I’ll also bring fresh insights from a survey of my expert network closer to the conference. This will offer a broader, more representative perspective on why AI projects stumble—and how to fix them.
Timed Outline (45 minutes):
1. Introduction (5 min)
- What qualifies me for this talk.
2. The Big Lamenti – Real-World Failures and Anecdotes (20 min)
- Anecdotes that illustrate the challenges in a candid yet engaging way.
- Learnings from the survey
3. Solutions and Best Practices (15 min)
- Mindset: How AI is perceived and approached within organizations.
- Data: The role of accessibility, governance, and quality as foundational pillars.
- Collaboration: Bridging silos between teams, leadership, and departments.
- Scale: The progression from small, focused initiatives to sustainable implementation.
- Expectations: Aligning vision, goals, and outcomes for realistic project success.
5. Takeaways & Closing Thoughts (5 min)
- Summary of insights and practical steps to avoid common pitfalls
- Key mindset shifts for sustainable AI success
5. Q&A (5 min)
Intermediate
Expected audience expertise: Python:None
Alexander Hendorf has over 20 years of experience in digitalization, data, and artificial intelligence. As an independent consultant, he specializes in the practical implementation, adoption, and communication of data- and AI-driven strategies and decision-making processes.
A recognized expert in data intelligence, Alexander has served as a speaker and chair at leading international conferences, including PyCon DE & PyData Berlin, Data2Day, and EuroPython. His dedication to the tech community has earned him the titles of Python Software Foundation Fellow and EuroPython Fellow.
He currently serves as a board member of the Python Software Verband (Germany). Since 2024, Alexander has been driving Pioneers Hub, a non-profit organization focused on fostering and supporting tech communities.
🌟 AI Strategy & Open Source Excellence | 🤝 Inspiring Communities, Empowering Innovators