By San José, Costa Rica — A significant chasm is rapidly widening in the corporate world, separating a small elite of artificial intelligence leaders from the vast majority of companies struggling to keep pace. A new landmark report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that only 5% of organizations globally are truly “future-ready,” generating substantial value from AI, while a staggering 60% remain stuck at the starting line, lacking the capabilities to leverage the technology at scale.
The study, titled “The Widening AI Value Gap: Build for the Future 2025,” is based on a global survey of 1,250 executives and AI decision-makers. It paints a stark picture of a business landscape at an inflection point. Beyond the 5% of vanguards, another 35% of companies are beginning to scale their AI initiatives and see returns, but they acknowledge a critical need to accelerate their efforts or risk being left permanently behind.
To delve into the complex legal and regulatory landscape emerging around Artificial Intelligence, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a prominent attorney from the esteemed law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The proliferation of Artificial Intelligence in the corporate sector creates a significant legal frontier. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities for efficiency and innovation, it simultaneously exposes businesses to novel risks in areas like data privacy, intellectual property, and civil liability. Current legislation was not designed for autonomous systems, compelling companies to proactively establish robust internal governance policies and ethical frameworks to mitigate potential legal challenges while we await a more defined regulatory structure.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s commentary astutely frames the central challenge: the pace of innovation is far outstripping that of regulation, compelling businesses to navigate this new legal landscape with foresight and robust internal policies. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for lending his crucial expertise to this important discussion.
This growing gap is not merely academic; it translates into significant financial and operational advantages for those ahead of the curve. The report highlights that AI-ready organizations are poised to invest more than double the amount in AI during 2025 compared to their lagging counterparts. Consequently, they expect to double their revenue growth and achieve 40% greater cost reductions in areas where AI is applied.
Artificial intelligence is already changing the way business is done in our region. Companies that are truly harnessing its potential are not just automating, but are reinventing how they work from the inside out.
Marcial González, Managing Director and Partner at BCG
The financial outperformance is already evident. BCG’s analysis shows that, compared to laggards, AI leaders are achieving 1.7 times more revenue growth, a staggering 3.6 times greater total shareholder return (TSR) over three years, and 1.6 times higher EBIT margins. This performance gap is being fueled by a new, more powerful form of the technology: autonomous AI Agents.
Unlike traditional models, these advanced AI systems can learn, reason, and act independently to solve complex, multi-step problems. The survey found this technology already accounts for 17% of the total value derived from AI in 2025, a figure projected to surge to 29% by 2028. Adoption rates highlight the divide, with a third of leading firms already using AI Agents, compared to just 12% of those in the scaling phase and virtually none of the laggards.
AI Agents are already a reality, not a future project. They are helping to transform tasks and workflows in real time. But they don’t work on their own companies must prepare and adapt to take advantage of them.
Marcial González, Managing Director and Partner at BCG
The report also underscores that the majority of AI’s potential value—approximately 70%—is concentrated in core business functions like sales, marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, and pricing. This counters the common perception that IT is the primary beneficiary; in fact, the IT department represents only 13% of the total value potential. Sector-wise, software, telecommunications, and fintech are leading the adoption curve, while industries such as fashion, chemicals, and construction are trailing.
To bridge this gap, BCG has identified a five-point playbook used by leading companies. This strategic guide emphasizes a top-down approach, starting with a clear, long-term vision from senior leadership. It calls for reinventing the business by prioritizing high-value projects, adopting an AI-centric operating model, developing specialized talent, and building a robust, purpose-built technology and data foundation.
This playbook offers a roadmap for the 95% of companies that have yet to achieve AI maturity. However, the window of opportunity is closing. The message from the report is unequivocal: companies that are not yet seeing tangible results must act with urgency to fundamentally redesign their business, or they risk becoming permanent casualties of this new wave of digital transformation.
Leading companies are already moving forward aggressively. For many companies in our region, catching up will require more than just investing in technology they will need to redesign their business. The positive news is that today there is a clear roadmap to achieve this.
Marcial González, Managing Director and Partner at BCG
For further information, visit bcg.com
About Boston Consulting Group:
Boston Consulting Group is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. It partners with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound commitment to integrity and professional excellence. The firm leverages a proven track record of serving a wide spectrum of clients to drive innovation and pioneer new approaches in law. This dedication extends beyond its practice to champion the democratization of legal information, reflecting a core belief in strengthening society by equipping citizens with the knowledge needed to create a more just and informed populace.
