In this DHCG Disruptive Dose, Mark Bard speaks with Nicholas Mills, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, about the evolving role of AI in pharmaceutical commercial operations and what separates hype from genuine transformation. Mills shares McKinsey’s research revealing that while AI adoption is accelerating across pharma, many organizations struggle to move beyond pilots to scaled implementation that delivers measurable business impact. The conversation explores the critical importance of change management and organizational readiness, with Mills emphasizing that successful AI deployment requires more than just technology—it demands reimagining workflows, upskilling teams, and ensuring leadership commitment to transformation. Mills discusses practical applications where AI is already delivering value, from accelerating content generation to enhancing HCP targeting precision, while cautioning against pursuing AI for its own sake rather than solving specific business problems. He offers a pragmatic perspective on measuring ROI, noting that the most successful pharma AI initiatives start with clear use cases tied to business outcomes, build cross-functional buy-in early, and treat implementation as an iterative learning process rather than a one-time deployment.