Proof over Promise Insights on Real World AI Adoption from 2025 MINDS Organizations 2026

In its inaugural year, the MINDS programme received hundreds of applications, each demonstrating tangible evidence of how AI-enabled transformation delivers value. Global reach: –Applications included multinational and cross- sector collaborations, underscoring AI’s role as a shared global priority. –Over 30 countries were represented in the applicant pool, spanning every major region.Industry breadth and depth: –Robust participation came from diverse industries (see Figure 1) – such as energy and utilities, health and life sciences, and banking and financial services. –Information technology accounted for nearly one-third of submissions, thereby providing a strong foundation of technical expertise. Diversity of scale: –Collectively, the cohort illustrates that impactful AI adoption is achievable for organizations of any size, whether through independent innovation or collaborative partnerships. –Over 50% of applicants were small and mid-sized organizations (1–500 employees), demonstrating that innovation is not confined to scale. –Approximately one-third were large multinational enterprises with workforces exceeding 10,000.Broad spectrum of AI applications within business functions –Broad adoption underscores the fact that AI has become a cross-functional enabler, transforming both front- and back-office domains. –Operations emerged as the most common application area, reflecting AI’s maturity in optimizing processes, improving efficiency and enhancing resilience. –Strong adoption was also seen across research and development (R&D), customer experience, strategy and planning, business development, engineering, quality and compliance, sales and marketing, supply chains, human resources, finance, procurement, law and security.1.2 A global landscape of AI adoption: diversity across regions, industries and scales Applicants to the MINDS programme by industry (percentage of total) FIGURE 1 38% Information technology10% Energy 9% Global health and healthcare 9% Automotive and new mobility 6% Financial services 4% Retail, consumer goods and lifestyle 4% Professional services 5% Other3% Agriculture, food and beverage, forest and land 3% Chemical and advanced materials 2% Engineering, construction and infrastructure 2% Education and educational technology 2% Advanced manufacturing 1% Government and public services 1% Media, entertainment and sport 1% Oil and gas Proof over Promise: Insights on Real-World AI Adoption from 2025 MINDS Organizations 6