The rush to implement AI has created a new challenge: how do you build systems that don't just impress in month one, but continue returning value in year three? This report captures insights from Growth Acceleration Partners' November 2025 Technology Executives Roundtable, where CTOs and engineering leaders tackled the shift from AI experiments to AI ecosystems. Inside: why fewer than 1% of enterprises score above 50 on AI maturity scales, the three metrics that matter more than cost savings (trust, adaptability, knowledge retention), and practical frameworks for governance that protects creativity instead of slowing it down. Key insight from GAP's CTO Paul Brownell: "Who cares how much faster you can generate inadequate results? The engineering, design and operation of AI systems must focus on successful outputs." Written by Jocelyn Sexton, VP of Marketing at Growth Acceleration Partners.