How to Identify AI Use Cases for Better ROI

Stop chasing AI experiments. Start building implementations that deliver measurable results.

AI leaders are seeing 1.5x faster revenue growth, 1.6x higher shareholder returns, and 1.4x better ROI on invested capital. Yet 92% of companies feel their AI initiatives haven’t reached full maturity. The difference? They’re following a proven framework for identifying the right use cases.

What Are AI Use Cases?

AI use cases are specific business applications where artificial intelligence technology solves real problems or creates measurable value. Unlike generic AI implementations, effective use cases target particular workflows, processes, or challenges within your organization. The most successful AI use cases typically fall into three categories:

• automating repetitive tasks
• overcoming skill bottlenecks
• navigating complex decision-making scenarios

OpenAI analyzed over 600 customer implementations to understand what separates successful AI adoption from expensive experiments. We’ve distilled their research into a visual, actionable cheat sheet you can implement immediately.

How to Identify High-ROI AI Use Cases

The Three Opportunity Categories That Drive Results – Learn how to identify AI impact across repetitive low-value tasks, skill bottlenecks, and navigating ambiguity – the three areas where OpenAI’s most successful customers find transformational value.

The ROI-Focused Prioritization Matrix – Access OpenAI’s exact framework for scoring use cases based on effort vs. impact, helping you identify “Quick Wins” with high ROI focus versus “Transformational” high-value projects that require more investment.

AI Use Case Examples by Department

Six Proven Use Case Categories

Get specific examples across Content Creation, Research, Data Analysis, Ideation/Strategy, Coding, and Automation – complete with department-specific applications for Marketing, Sales, Finance, Product, and IT teams.

Benefits of AI Implementation

When implemented strategically, AI use cases deliver measurable business outcomes:

• Operational Efficiency: Eliminate time-consuming manual processes that don’t showcase team expertise
• Skill Amplification: Help teams overcome knowledge gaps without waiting for specialized resources
• Decision Support: Navigate ambiguous situations with AI-generated insights and next-step recommendations
• Scalable Growth: Transform high-effort tasks into repeatable, automated workflows
• Competitive Advantage: Deploy proven frameworks faster than organizations still experimenting

Why This Framework Works

The companies succeeding with AI aren’t necessarily the most technically advanced, they’re the ones systematically identifying where AI adds genuine value. The cheat sheet designed by our team at ILI Digital gives you the same strategic approach that’s driving measurable results across industries.

Based on OpenAI’s analysis, successful AI adoption starts with understanding three key opportunity areas: eliminating repetitive work that slows teams down, breaking through skill bottlenecks that create dependencies, and helping teams navigate ambiguous situations where the path forward isn’t clear.

Perfect For:

• Department heads looking to identify high-impact AI opportunities within their teams
• Operations leaders seeking to eliminate bottlenecks and streamline repetitive processes
• Strategy teams needing a systematic approach to evaluate AI investment priorities
• Innovation managers who want proven use cases rather than experimental projects

Start Implementing Today

The gap between AI success and AI disappointment comes down to starting with the right use cases in the right order. This cheat sheet gives you OpenAI’s proven methodology for identifying, prioritizing, and implementing AI use cases that deliver measurable ROI. Ready to move beyond AI pilot projects to scalable implementations?

Get your Copy

We created a cheat sheet to summarize key frameworks from OpenAI’s “Identifying and scaling AI use cases” research guide. Download your free cheat sheet and start applying insights from 600+ successful AI deployments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good AI use case?

The best AI use cases combine high business impact with low implementation effort. Look for repetitive tasks, skill bottlenecks, or ambiguous decision-making scenarios where AI can provide immediate value while building organizational capabilities.

How do you measure AI ROI?

Measure AI ROI by tracking time savings, quality improvements, and new capabilities enabled. Focus on both quantitative metrics (hours saved, error reduction) and qualitative benefits (employee satisfaction, strategic capacity).

What are the most common AI use cases for businesses?

Based on OpenAI’s research, the most successful business AI use cases span content creation, research acceleration, data analysis, strategic ideation, coding assistance, and workflow automation across marketing, sales, finance, product, and IT functions.

How long does AI implementation take?

Implementation timelines vary by complexity. “Quick Win” use cases can show results within weeks, while transformational projects may take months. The key is starting with high-impact, low-effort opportunities to build momentum.