95% of AI pilots fail to reach production, but it’s not because of the technology. Brett Schklar, CEO of AI First Leadership and author of “AI Without the BS,” has tracked AI adoption across 1,800 companies over two years and discovered the real bottleneck: the “frozen middle.”

In this conversation, Brett reveals why senior managers and directors represent both the highest resistance and highest potential impact for AI adoption.

We explore his data showing marketing teams achieving 2.3x productivity gains while others fall behind, and his practical approach to building AI capacity through 1% weekly improvements that compound to 68% productivity gains.

Key topics covered:

✅ Why the “frozen middle” blocks AI adoption

✅ How intelligence becomes a commodity but wisdom remains human

✅ The K-shaped productivity curve emerging in organizations

✅ Department-by-department ROI data from 1,800 companies

✅ Why focusing on 1% problems beats transformation strategies

✅ Building internal AI champions and centers of excellence

✅ The identity crisis driving AI resistance

✅ Practical tactics for mid-market AI implementation

Timestamps:

00:00 — Intro and Brett’s background

05:30 — From AI resistance to AI mandates: two-year evolution

12:00 — The model selection dilemma and governance concerns

18:45 — Scaling AI education beyond workshops

25:30 — The “frozen middle” problem explained

32:15 — ROI data across departments and functions

38:00 — Marketing productivity vs. content quality concerns

45:20 — Bringing marketing and sales together with AI

52:00 — Weekend project recommendations

57:00 — Brett’s essential tools and where to connect

Check out Kevin’s stuff:

Ascend Labs: https://ascendlabs.ai/

Follow Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinguywilliams/

Get practical AI guidance: launchpad.ascendlabs.ai

Schedule a conversation with Kevin: tidycal.com/kevinwilliams

Connect with Brett: AI First Leadership on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/bschklar
Website: brettschklar.com
Book: https://bit.ly/AIWithoutBS