Hani Assi Urges Shift to Long-Term AI Value Analysis

Hani Assi, Director at Advanced Technology Company, argues that sustainable AI adoption requires organizations to shift their focus from initial purchase prices to long-term operational costs and measurable value. He warns that AI projects often appear more affordable than they are because employees silently absorb the burdens of system monitoring, data preparation, and error correction.

To mitigate these hidden costs, Assi recommends a staged investment strategy. This approach begins by addressing specific operational problems and requires that finance, operations, and technology teams share ownership of all expansion decisions.

These organizational challenges coincide with broader infrastructure pressures. The International Energy Agency projects that global data center electricity consumption will nearly double, rising from 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 950 terawatt-hours by 2030, which will require significant grid investment. Assi maintains that government spending must target critical gaps in computing capacity, connectivity, and skills to ensure public productivity, citing a 2025 World Bank report on the foundations of AI.