Founder stories from the world of Data and AI The Growth Playbook: Data & AI Why 69% of AI Projects Still Fail with Dave Shuman - ThinkData Podcast

Episode 10

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Published on:

12th Mar 2026

S4 | E10 | Why AI initiatives fail to deliver measurable results - CDO @ Precisely

Today’s guest is Dave Shuman, Chief Data Officer at Precisely.

Precisely is a global leader in data integrity, helping organisations trust, manage and maximise their data so they can power better decisions, analytics and AI at scale.

Despite the explosion of AI investment, many organisations are still struggling to turn AI ambition into measurable business outcomes, and in this episode, we explore why.

Dave shares insights from Precisely’s 2026 State of Data Integrity and AI Readiness report, and explains why so many companies believe AI is aligned to business goals, yet only a small percentage actually link those initiatives to real KPIs.

We discuss:

• Why most AI initiatives fail to deliver measurable results

• Where the disconnect between AI strategy and execution really begins

• What the 2026 Data Integrity report reveals about enterprise AI readiness

• How organisations can turn AI confidence into real operational capability

• Whether the Chief Data Officer should be a data custodian or a business strategist

If you are building data platforms, scaling AI initiatives, or leading data strategy inside an organisation, this conversation is packed with insights.

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About the Podcast

ThinkData Podcast
The Growth Playbook: Data & AI
The Growth Playbook brings you inside the minds of the leaders shaping Data and AI. Each episode, we sit down with some of the most interesting voices in the industry, from startup founders to seasoned execs, to hear their stories, lessons learned, and the real strategies behind growing great businesses.

About your host

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Alex Hutchings

I’m the Co-Founder of the Dataworks Group, a specialist talent partner in the world of Data and Artificial Intelligence.

I’ve spent the last 15+ years working at the heart of this space, helping some of the most exciting companies on the planet build world-class Data and AI teams.

Through our roundtables, live events, and right here on the ThinkData Podcast, my goal is simple: to bring you real insights from the fastest-growing talent market in the world.

Whether you’re building, hiring, or just curious about what’s next, you’ll hear straight from the founders and senior leaders shaping the future of work.