Why AI Is Like Jelly

Why It Matters

Understanding AI’s fragmented rollout helps telecom leaders prioritize focused pilots, ensuring they capture value now while navigating stakeholder fears and competitive pressures.

Key Takeaways

• Evidence of AI pilots exists, but commercial impact remains limited.
• Operators focus on data context and intent, not just raw metrics.
• Small AI factories, like Telus, prove rapid, demand‑driven deployments.
• AI’s “jelly” nature creates messy, unpredictable conversations across stakeholders.
• Success hinges on single, well‑executed AI use case, not broad experiments.

Summary

At Futureet World 2026 in London, industry leaders debated the state of artificial intelligence in telecom, using a vivid "AI is like jelly" analogy to capture its current fluidity and unpredictability.

Panelists noted a scarcity of hard‑numbers; most initiatives remain operational pilots rather than profit‑driving projects. Yet there are promising signs: operators are rethinking data by emphasizing context and intent, and examples like Telus’s sovereign AI factory—built in six months and already selling—show rapid, demand‑driven deployment models.

Andrew Collinson highlighted memorable remarks, including the jelly metaphor and Aaron from Cult’s warning that only the brave will reap AI benefits. He also cited Telenor’s level‑four trial in Finland and the broader fear‑optimism divide among stakeholders.

The takeaway for executives is clear: AI adoption is still fragmented, and success will come from focusing on one well‑executed use case rather than chasing every hype. Smaller operators can compete by leveraging lean AI factories and avoiding legacy inertia, but the industry must address underlying societal concerns about job displacement and equitable value distribution.

Original Description

Reflecting on the key takeaways from the recent FutureNet World event in London, Andrew Collinson, founder and principal at Connective Insight, explains why AI is like jelly (or Jell-O, if you’re in the US), highlights advances in telco data management strategies, and identifies examples of progress in AI-native deployments. Overall, though, Collinson says the telco sector is still lacking much in the way of quantifiable evidence that AI is having a positive impact (yet) on the industry.

Featuring: Andrew Collinson, Founder & Principal, Connective Insight

Recorded: April 2026

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