#99 - Why 95% of AI Projects Fail | Gregory Richardson

95% of AI projects are failing — and your ministry can't afford to be part of that statistic. Gregory Richardson, founder of Six Levers Consulting and a 35-year veteran of cybersecurity and technology leadership, brings a rare combination of deep tech expertise and unashamed Christian faith to one of the most important conversations in ministry today. This episode will challenge the way you think about AI, risk, and what it means to be a faithful steward of technology.Key TakeawaysGregory has sat in the boardrooms of companies like Blackberry and McAfee, served ministries like Global Media Outreach, and spent decades wrestling with what it looks like to be a faithful Christian in the middle of a secular tech world. In this conversation, he brings that hard-won wisdom directly to ministry leaders navigating the pressure to adopt AI responsibly. Here's what stood out most:95% of AI projects fail — and the reason may surprise you. Gregory references a study conducted in partnership with the MIT Media Lab (confirmed Q4 of the previous year) showing the vast majority of AI initiatives collapse not because of bad tools, but because of poor strategy, misaligned leadership, and a lack of governance before deployment.Christians belong in the tech space — on purpose. Gregory shares vulnerably about spending decades feeling torn between his corporate identity and his Christian calling, only to discover that his presence in secular tech environments may have been the only "on-ramp to Jesus" many of his colleagues ever encountered.AI governance isn't optional — it's stewardship. Gregory walks through why ministries and organizations must establish AI policies before they begin experimenting with tools, drawing on his background as a former CISO to explain the cybersecurity and ethical risks that come with ungoverned AI adoption.Your team is your biggest AI risk and your greatest AI asset. The conversation digs into how staff behavior, shadow AI usage, and a lack of training create real vulnerabilities — and how intentional, human-first implementation changes everything.Faith and technology aren't competing callings — they're complementary ones. Gregory's framework of "Six Levers" offers a practical lens for leaders navigating how to steward AI in a way that honors mission, protects people, and advances the Kingdom.Deep Bible literacy matters more than ever in an AI age. Gregory delivers a powerful challenge around discernment, theological grounding, and the danger of applying Scripture out of context — drawing a direct line between how we read the Bible and how we evaluate the promises AI vendors make.Community is a competitive advantage. Gregory describes "The Table," a free monthly gathering he hosts for business and ministry leaders to share what's working, what's failing, and how to move forward — together.Ready to Stop Experimenting and Start Multiplying?If your ministry is feeling the pressure to "do something with AI" but isn't sure where to start, this episode is your roadmap. Gregory's experience spans Fortune 500 companies, global ministries, and educational institutions — and his perspective will give you both the clarity and the confidence to move forward wisely. Don't miss this one. Listen to the full episode now.ResourcesSix Levers Consulting — sixleversconsulting.comGregory Richardson (Personal Site) — gregoryrichardson.aiConnect with Gregory on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorypkrichardson/Harvard Business Review Article (with link to MIP Report) — https://hbr.org/2025/08/beware-the-ai-experimentation-trapLord of Spirits Podcast — Referenced by Gregory as a resource for Christians who want to develop deeper Bible literacy and hermeneutical understanding. https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/Launch AI by Five Q — Ready to move from AI experimentation to measurable ministry impact? Learn more at fiveq.com/launch