India, April 22 -- Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long moved past the experimental stage. From banking to retail, it's being woven deep into business strategy. Yet, for most enterprises, the question isn't whether to adopt AI-but how to measure its true impact.

According to Mayank Baid, Regional Vice President, India & South Asia at Cloudera, the path to AI ROI is rarely linear. "AI is a long-term investment," he points out, "and its return isn't captured through a single metric." Unlike traditional IT spends, AI's value lies in a multi-dimensional matrix of outcomes-from improved decision-making to personalized customer experiences.

The obsession with AI cost savings is common, but it's also narrow. As Baid explains, the real busines...