Pressure to Deliver on AI, but Infrastructures Not Ready
When it comes to artificial intelligence initiatives, business leaders are feeling pressure to act — and act fast. However, neither their organizations nor technology infrastructures are ready for the surge in AI applications.
Urgency to Deliver on AI
A survey of 7,985 senior business leaders, released by Cisco, finds 98% report increased urgency to deliver on AI and 85% believe they have less than 18 months to act. More than half (59%) give it only 12 months.
Readiness to Leverage AI
However, at this point, only 13% say they are fully ready to capture AI’s potential — no better than the paltry 14% reporting such readiness last year. They lack skilled staff, higher-capacity infrastructures, and AI-ready data.
Concerns about AI’s Ability to Deliver Returns
Doubts about AI’s ability to deliver returns remain on the list tool. While 50% of respondents cite pressure from the CEO and their leadership team to get moving with AI, there has been somewhat of a waning of enthusiasm about the transformative power of AI at this level. This year, 66% of respondents report that their organizations’ boards are “receptive” and 75% say their leadership teams are “receptive” — down from 82% for both last year, the survey shows.
Measuring AI’s Impact
“A large number of respondents in our survey noted that their AI investments have not yet delivered the gains they expected,” the survey’s authors report. Nearly 50% of respondents reported not seeing any gains or gains below expectations in areas such as assisting, augmenting, or automating a process or operation. The results highlight that while companies are keen to adopt and deploy AI, the ability and readiness to fully leverage it remains limited. The lack of visible results also may be due to organizations not having the right processes in place to accurately measure the impact of AI, with just over a third (38%) of respondents saying they have clearly defined metrics to do so.”
AI Skills and Talent Shortage
AI skills are a major concern for companies wanting to move forward with AI. Only 31% of organizations claim their talent is at a high state of readiness to fully leverage AI. Twenty-four percent say their organizations are under-resourced in terms of in-house talent necessary for successful AI deployment. This shortage has had another unintended consequence, the survey finds. Intensified competition for skilled talent is driving up costs, cited by 48% of respondents as a major challenge.
Infrastructure Readiness
Infrastructure readiness — or the lack thereof — for AI is another concern. Only 21% report having the necessary GPUs to meet current and future AI demands. Only 30% have the capabilities to protect data in AI models with end-to-end encryption, security audits, continuous monitoring, and instant threat response.
Recommendations to Bridge the Gap
- Invest in scalable, adaptive, and secure infrastructure: Scalability and security are the watchwords to successful AI planning. “As generative AI tools become more accessible, companies should have technology and policies in place to ensure they safeguard themselves from unauthorized data sharing and loss, and are able to defend against prompt injection, data and model poisoning, and other AI-specific attacks.”
- Enhance data management, integration, and governance: There are two key aspects that organizations need to look at: data quality and governance. “Implement comprehensive governance frameworks to ensure that data flows across the organization, as needed, are in compliance with relevant regulations.
- Focus on talent development and retention: “The hype around AI is creating a shortage of talent with the right skill sets, and increasing the cost to hire.” The Cisco authors urge investing in existing talent pools. “This includes creating continuous learning opportunities for staff, encouraging cross-functional teams to collaborate and share knowledge on AI projects, and most importantly, looking for skills that can be transferred from an existing role to one focused on AI, to expand the available talent pool.”
- Foster a supportive organizational culture and AI vision: Periodically revisit and reassess the AI strategy to ensure it aligns with the company’s overarching business goals. In addition, “organizations should ensure that as they adopt and deploy AI across areas of their business, they not only highlight its potential benefits but also acknowledge any concerns employees might have on the impact on their jobs and roles. Encourage employees ‘to push boundaries and contribute to the company’s AI-driven goals, ensuring sustained growth and competitive advantage.”
Conclusion
The report highlights the need for organizations to prioritize investments in infrastructure, talent, and data management to ensure successful AI deployment. It also underscores the importance of fostering a supportive organizational culture and AI vision to drive sustained growth and competitive advantage.
FAQs
Q: What is the primary concern for companies wanting to move forward with AI?
A: AI skills and talent shortage.
Q: How many organizations report having the necessary GPUs to meet current and future AI demands?
A: Only 21%.
Q: What percentage of respondents report not seeing any gains or gains below expectations in areas such as assisting, augmenting, or automating a process or operation?
A: Nearly 50%.
Q: What is the recommended approach to address the talent shortage?
A: Investing in existing talent pools, creating continuous learning opportunities, and encouraging cross-functional teams to collaborate and share knowledge on AI projects.
Q: What is the key to successful AI planning?
A: Scalability, security, and adaptability.
