AI edge will depend on building hard-to-copy systems, says McKinsey

As artificial intelligence becomes widely adopted across industries, companies can no longer rely on standard AI models alone to stay ahead, according to a new report by McKinsey & Company.

The report said nearly 90 per cent of organisations are already using large language models to improve productivity, making AI a basic business requirement rather than a unique advantage.

According to McKinsey, the real competitive edge will come from how companies build systems, workflows, and infrastructure around AI that rivals cannot easily replicate.