Hi, I'm Jamie Oarton
I'm an AI strategy advisor and fractional Chief AI Officer through Bramforth AI, helping mid-market businesses build AI strategies that actually connect to how they make money. I share what I'm learning through writing, video, and a growing community of people figuring out AI together.
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AI Strategy
I help leadership teams cut through the hype and build AI strategies grounded in business reality - not vendor wishlists.
Training & Speaking
AI courses and workshops for leadership teams who need to make decisions about AI, not just understand it.
Fractional CAIO
Embedded AI leadership for your organisation. Strategy, governance, and capability building - through Bramforth AI.
Latest thinking
Three people, three sources, three different versions of what AI means for your business
Your CEO, CTO, and CFO are each getting their AI advice from completely different places. That's why nothing moves forward.
5 min readYour team are using AI tools you don't know about. Here's what that actually means.
68% of employees use AI tools their employer hasn't approved. 77% have pasted company data into them. Here's what shadow AI means for your business.
5 min readYou don't have an AI strategy. You have a list of tools. Here's the difference.
Most mid-market companies say they have an AI strategy. What they actually have is a list of tools. Here's why that's costing you money.
6 min readDeep dives
Agentic AI: What Mid-Market Leaders Need to Know
Agentic AI - systems that can plan, decide, and act autonomously - is the next major shift. 40% of enterprise apps will feature AI agents by 2026. Here's what it means for your business.
6 min readThe AI Advice Gap: Why Your Leadership Team Can't Agree on AI
The AI advice gap is the problem that occurs when different members of your leadership team are getting AI guidance from completely different sources - leading to misalignment, wasted spend, and paralysis.
6 min readAI Change Management: Why 70% of AI Challenges Are About People, Not Technology
Most AI failures aren't technology problems - they're people problems. 70% of challenges rolling out AI are related to people and processes. Here's how to manage the human side of AI adoption.
7 min readIs Your Data AI-Ready? What Most Companies Get Wrong
52% of organisations cite data quality as their biggest AI barrier. Here's what AI-ready data actually means, why most companies aren't there, and what to do about it.
7 min readAI Governance for Businesses: A Practical Guide
AI governance is the set of policies, processes, and controls that determine how your organisation adopts, uses, and manages AI. Only 7% of UK businesses have it properly in place. Here's what it looks like and how to build it.
7 min readAI Pilot Purgatory: Why Your AI Pilots Never Reach Production
88% of AI proofs of concept never make it to production. Here's why mid-market companies get stuck in 'pilot purgatory' and how to escape it.
7 min readAI ROI: Why Most AI Investments Fail and What to Do Differently
80% of AI projects fail to deliver business value. Only 10% of companies see significant returns. Here's what the research says about why - and what the successful 10% do differently.
7 min readAI Strategy for Mid-Market Companies: What It Actually Means
An AI strategy is not a list of tools. It's a plan that connects AI investments to business outcomes. Here's what a real AI strategy looks like for companies turning over £20M–£100M.
8 min readHow to Choose AI Tools: A Vendor Selection Guide for Mid-Market Companies
The average company runs 130+ SaaS apps and wastes 20-25% of that budget. Here's how to choose AI tools that actually deliver value - without the tool sprawl.
8 min readHow to Choose a Fractional CAIO: A Buyer's Guide
A practical guide to selecting the right fractional Chief AI Officer for your business. What to look for, what to avoid, and the questions you should ask before hiring.
7 min readFractional CAIO vs Full-Time: Which Does Your Business Need?
A fractional CAIO costs a fraction of a full-time hire and works for most mid-market companies. Here's how to decide which model fits your business.
6 min readWhat Is a Fractional Chief AI Officer (CAIO)?
A fractional CAIO is a part-time AI executive who helps businesses build and execute AI strategy without hiring a full-time C-suite leader. Here's what they do, who needs one, and what it costs.
8 min readShadow AI: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It
Shadow AI is the use of unauthorised AI tools by employees without IT approval or oversight. 69% of organisations suspect or have evidence it's happening. Here's what it means for your business and how to manage it.
8 min readWhere to Start with AI: A Guide for Mid-Market Leaders
The #1 question mid-market companies ask about AI is 'where do we start?' Here's a practical, step-by-step answer - from first assessment to first results.
8 min readOne actionable AI insight per week
What's working, what's not, and what to do about it.