The Enterprise AI Landscape — Understanding the Cost-Value Equation

Enterprise AI spending reached $154 billion globally in 2025, yet 73% of organizations report difficulty extracting measurable business value from their AI investments. This article establishes the foundational framework for understanding enterprise AI economics, examining the current market structure, cost categories, value measurement methodologies, and the strategic principles that separate successful implementations from expensive failures. Part of the Cost-Effective Enterprise AI 40-article research series.