How AI Lite Delivers Real Value: Insights From Seth Earley in Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review featured a piece by Seth Earley that explains why many organizations hesitate to pursue advanced AI and how a practical, knowledge based approach can provide immediate value while laying the foundation for future capabilities. Seth highlights that companies often view AI as complex, costly, and out of reach, yet many early gains come from improving how knowledge is structured and delivered across the organization.
Seth emphasizes that AI succeeds only when information is well organized and aligned with the needs of the business. Without this foundation, even large AI investments will fall short.
AI Lite Can Deliver Meaningful Results Now
Seth explains that organizations do not need full scale machine learning systems to benefit from AI. Knowledge based tools that organize language, definitions, decisions, and content can dramatically improve accuracy, speed, and consistency. These systems do not learn autonomously, but they can become extremely effective when grounded in well structured vocabularies and processes.
The example of Allstate Business Insurance illustrates this clearly. Seth describes how a virtual assistant, ABIe, transformed the way agents accessed product and policy information. By structuring terminology and applying consistent logic across systems, ABIe grew from a few thousand queries per month to more than one hundred thousand. The solution paid for itself within a year and delivered ongoing efficiencies at scale.
Strong Information Structure Is the Real Foundation
Seth notes that many failures occur when companies attempt to use AI without first addressing fragmented data, inconsistent terminology, and disconnected systems. Knowledge must be unified before AI can provide meaningful insights.
Companies must:
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Identify the root causes of information bottlenecks
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Understand user needs and the tasks that matter most
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Build a consistent vocabulary and model for how information should be used
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Apply governance to ensure quality, consistency, and ongoing updates
According to Seth, this structured approach positions organizations for both immediate improvements and future AI adoption.
Governance and Alignment Are Critical
Seth stresses that success with AI Lite or more advanced AI requires active governance, cross department coordination, and strong senior sponsorship. Piecemeal solutions create inconsistent experiences and force teams into costly rework. Without enterprise alignment, even promising tools will remain limited in impact.
Preparing for the Future of AI Begins Now
Seth concludes that organizations can gain value today while preparing for more advanced AI in the future. The work of building shared vocabularies, consistent data models, and strong governance will support every AI initiative that follows.
By treating knowledge as a managed business asset, companies can reduce costs, improve customer engagement, and create a scalable foundation for AI driven transformation.
Read the full Harvard Business Review article