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A small group of companies globally is pulling sharply ahead in generating real financial returns from artificial intelligence (AI), and Jamaican businesses are being urged not to fall behind.

According to PwC’s 2026 AI Performance Study, nearly 75 per cent of AI’s economic value is being captured by just 20 per cent of organisations, highlighting a widening gap between companies that are successfully scaling AI and those still experimenting. While many organisations, including those in Jamaica, have begun exploring AI tools, the study shows that the real differentiator is how companies use the technology.

“Across Jamaica, we’re seeing growing interest in AI, but adoption alone is not enough,” explained Adrian Tait, Consulting Partner at PwC Jamaica. “The companies that are seeing real value are the ones using AI to drive growth, entering new markets, improving customer experiences, and rethinking how their businesses operate, not just cutting costs.”

The global research, based on a survey of more than 1,200 senior executives across 25 industries, found that leading companies are two to three times more likely to use AI to identify new revenue opportunities and reinvent their business models. They are also twice as likely to redesign workflows around AI, rather than simply layering tools onto existing processes.

This shift is especially important for Jamaica, where policymakers and business leaders have increasingly pointed to AI and advanced technologies as critical to improving productivity and competitiveness.

Hugh Thompson, Director of Digital Transformation at PwC Jamaica, said the opportunity for local companies lies in moving beyond experimentation to strategic implementation.

“AI has the potential to transform key sectors in Jamaica, from financial services and tourism to logistics and the public sector,” Hugh Thompson said. “But unlocking that value requires intentional investment in data, governance, and talent, as well as a willingness to rethink traditional business models.”

Organisations can harness AI to deliver personalised experiences and predict demand in tourism, strengthen fraud detection and customer service in financial services, streamlining routing and inventory decisions in logistics, and improve the efficiency of citizen-service triage in the public sector.

The study also found that companies achieving the strongest financial outcomes from AI are significantly more advanced in deploying the technology. These organisations are nearly twice as likely to use AI in autonomous or self-optimising ways. They are also increasing the number of decisions made without human intervention at almost three times the rate of their peers.

Importantly, this level of automation is supported by strong governance and trust frameworks. Leading companies are more likely to have formal Responsible AI structures and cross-functional oversight. Employees are also twice as likely to trust AI-driven outputs.

The study comes as Jamaica moves to formalise its artificial intelligence agenda through a national task force, alongside ongoing budget-related discussions on measures such as a digital services tax. Together, these developments are sharpening focus on whether policy will support—or constrain—the growth of the island’s digital economy.

Tait noted that this balance between innovation and trust will be critical in the Jamaican context.

“As Jamaican companies scale their use of AI, building trust with customers, employees, and regulators will be just as important as the technology itself,” he said. “Those who get that balance right will be best positioned to compete, both locally and globally.”

With industries converging and new digital business models emerging, PwC warns that the gap between AI leaders and laggards is likely to widen unless organisations shift their approach.

For Jamaican companies, the message is clear: the opportunity is not just to adopt AI, but to use it as a catalyst for growth, reinvention, and long-term competitiveness.