Our practices for covering AI transformation initiatives have shifted meaningfully since we started, and the specific changes are worth naming.
We raised our bar for calling something AI transformation
Early coverage sometimes accepted the label fairly readily when a company applied it to an initiative. We now look for evidence that AI is actually load-bearing to the change, not simply present alongside it.
We started tracking transformation claims over longer time horizons
We didn't consistently revisit whether announced transformation initiatives actually materialized as described. We now try to follow up more systematically months or years later.
We got more specific about what "transformation" actually changed
We used to describe transformation initiatives somewhat generally. We now try to specify the concrete operational change involved, rather than relying on the word itself to carry meaning.
Why this evolution matters
"Transformation" is a word easily applied to initiatives of very different substance, and we think being more disciplined about what actually earns that label serves readers better than accepting company framing at face value.