UNHYPED: From Hype to Hard ROI in the Age of AI

Cut through the hype. Build what actually works. Deliver real ROI.

Every organisation is under pressure to “do something with AI.”

Noise is high. Vendor promises are loud. Teams are stretched. And many AI initiatives drift into momentum long before anyone can explain how value will land, how risk is controlled, or who is accountable when things go wrong.

UNHYPED is a practical, architectural playbook for leaders who need to make real decisions about AI in organisations that are already under strain.

This book focuses on what actually determines outcomes:

• Why demos, pilots, and vendor narratives dominate - and why they rarely survive contact with production

• How to identify the value flows that genuinely affect revenue, cost, and risk

• How to pressure-test ideas before they turn into sunk cost and political momentum

• Why coordination, governance, and workflow design matter more than model choice

• How to build the architectural foundations required for measurable, repeatable ROI

UNHYPED is not about futurism or prediction.

It treats the organisation as a system. It asks where intelligence truly belongs. And it focuses on building the rails that allow humans and machines to coordinate safely, predictably, and at scale.

Most AI programmes don’t fail because the technology is immature.

They fail because no one forced the hard decisions early enough.

If you want traction instead of theatre, this is a starting point - not a shortcut.

About the Author

Stuart Winter-Tear advises executives on AI architecture and decision-making, and helps organisations design the systems, controls, and workflows required for intelligent operations.

Find him at unhyped.pro.