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HomeTechnologyAIVideosHow Finance Leaders Can Stop AI Failure and Adopt Augmented Intelligence with John Thomas
FinanceAI

How Finance Leaders Can Stop AI Failure and Adopt Augmented Intelligence with John Thomas

•March 11, 2026
Paul Barnhurst
Paul Barnhurst•Mar 11, 2026

Why It Matters

Adopting augmented intelligence with disciplined frameworks can dramatically improve AI ROI for finance functions, turning costly failures into competitive advantages.

Key Takeaways

  • •Ask right questions before deploying AI, not just model choice
  • •Augmented intelligence emphasizes human‑AI collaboration over replacement for finance
  • •MIT study shows 95% AI projects miss ROI targets
  • •AIR framework targets cognitive biases to reduce 85% failure rate
  • •Feasibility studies and slow‑down approach improve AI adoption success

Summary

The Future Finance episode features John Thomas Foxworthy, founder and CEO of the Global Institute of Data Science, discussing how finance leaders can avoid AI project failures by embracing augmented intelligence rather than viewing AI as a replacement.

Foxworthy cites an MIT study showing 95% of AI initiatives miss ROI and notes his own AIR framework, which tackles cognitive biases that cause an 85% failure rate. He stresses that asking the right questions, conducting feasibility studies, and slowing down deployments are essential to bridge the gap between hype and real‑world financial performance.

Key quotes include, “It’s not the technology that fails; it’s people failing to ask the right questions,” and “Augmented intelligence is about human‑AI collaboration for the rest of the century.” He also warns against chasing undefined AGI and highlights the need to monetize unstructured data sources such as social media and log files.

For CFOs and FP&A teams, the takeaway is clear: prioritize augmented intelligence, apply the AIR framework, and focus on measurable, near‑term use cases. Doing so can turn AI from a costly experiment into a strategic advantage, improving decision‑making and protecting against the high failure rates that have plagued past projects.

Original Description

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper explore how leaders can cut through the hype around artificial intelligence and focus on real-world impact. The conversation dives into why so many AI initiatives fail, how cognitive biases affect AI adoption, and why finance professionals must learn to ask better questions before deploying models.
John Thomas is the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute of Data Science (GIDS), a consulting and professional development organization focused on helping organizations successfully implement AI and data science initiatives. He serves as a Fractional Chief AI Officer for Fortune 500 companies and teaches AI and machine learning courses at Caltech CTME and UC San Diego Extended Studies.
In this episode, you will discover:
Why 85% of AI projects fail and how to avoid
The difference between AI hype and real implementation
How augmented intelligence improves human decision-making
Why asking the right questions about AI models matters most
How AI can help with risk analysis and financial decision-making
This episode highlights that successful AI adoption is not about chasing the latest technology trends but about asking better questions, understanding assumptions, and focusing on real business problems. As AI continues to evolve, finance leaders who combine human judgment with intelligent systems will be best positioned to turn AI from hype into measurable results.
Follow John:
GIDS: https://gidsco.substack.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thomas-foxworthy-m-s-data-science-1718073/
Future Alpha Event: https://www.alphaevents.com/events-futurealphaglobal/agenda-page/filter?_gl=1*1j0347f*[…]ovIhoCWOYQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAomEzrlLzh-epjUJjbfXNnASlChga
Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii
Follow Paul:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy
Follow QFlow.AI:
Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg
Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.
Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.
In Today’s Episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[02:05] – Meet John Thomas
[04:11] – Augmented intelligence explained
[11:21] – Global Institute of Data Science
[15:18] – Why AI projects fail
[21:29] – Understanding AI models
[24:45] – AI in portfolio risk analysis
[30:16] – Best advice for finance leaders
[32:15] – Rapid-fire questions & wrap-up

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