Getting ROI from AI, or Pouring Money into Hype Machine

Coming December 16th: Are companies actually getting ROI from AI, or just pouring money into the hype machine?

In this episode of Three Takes on AI, Campbell leads the crew through one of the toughest conversations facing every business leader right now: when should you invest more — and when should you demand results?

You’ll hear three sharply different perspectives:

• Campbell’s strategic & governance lens — how to pressure-test AI bets and avoid “innovation theater.”

• Brian’s engineering pragmatism — what actually delivers ROI inside real workflows (and what never will).

• Michael’s investment mindset — how to separate value-creating AI from budget-draining experiments.

  
  

Together, the trio breaks down:

• The hard truths from recent AI deployments

• ROI calculations that go far beyond simple cost savings

• When “soft” benefits — resilience, agility, brand lift — actually justify the spend

• How to choose AI use cases that pay off

• And the governance checkpoints that keep teams honest

  
  

Expect rapid-fire takes, real-world wins and wipeouts, and a clear-eyed look at how to make smarter AI investment decisions heading into 2026.