TechCrunch · 25 Oct, 16:57 · Finance briefing

AI delivers ‘zero financial payoff’ to most companies, Apollo economist says

According to a recent TechCrunch report, an economist from Apollo Global Management asserts that artificial intelligence has delivered zero financial payoff for the majority of companies.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential

83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

According to a recent TechCrunch report, an economist from Apollo Global Management asserts that artificial intelligence has delivered zero financial payoff for the majority of companies. This finding challenges the prevailing narrative of immediate AI-driven profitability, suggesting that many organisations are struggling to translate technological adoption into tangible economic returns. The statement highlights a significant gap between AI implementation and actual value creation, urging businesses to reassess their investment strategies and expectations regarding this transformative technology in the current market landscape.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This revelation should prompt you to prioritise strategic oversight over mere technical adoption. If AI yields no financial return without proper management, skills in evaluating ROI and aligning technology with business objectives become critical. You must focus on understanding how to measure value, not just deploy tools. Professionals who can bridge the gap between technical potential and financial reality will rise in value. Do not simply learn to code; learn to manage AI initiatives with a focus on efficiency and cost-benefit analysis. Review your current projects: are they generating measurable value? If not, pivot towards roles that emphasise strategic decision-making, risk assessment, and operational efficiency. Your next step is to master the art of translating AI capabilities into concrete business outcomes, ensuring you remain indispensable in a market sceptical of empty tech promises.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Project Management, Business And Management and Data Science — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.