David D. Ellison: How to Build an AI Business From the Ground Up

AI monetization hinges on business value and trust, Lenovo executive David D. Ellison says. He notes that enterprises should start with high-value problems rather than flashy models, citing his eight-year effort building Lenovo's AI Discover Center of Excellence, which now supports more than $1 billion in revenue. Lenovo employs a hybrid structure: a centralized COE that sets workflows and governance, plus embedded data science teams in business units that tailor frameworks to operations. Moving from pilot to production requires real data, integrated workflows, and measurable KPIs agreed with business owners. The goal is scalable, repeatable processes, not demos.