As companies navigate the integration of AI, a new report by Infosys and MIT Technology Review Insights reveals that only 13% of executives have a comprehensive roadmap for leveraging cloud investments to advance AI adoption beyond basic data and computational functions.
"Today, we are in the early stages of reimagining enterprise with AI and as we move towards a human plus AI collaborative state, cloud & data will be the catalyst in scaling AI. However, just 13% of the executives have a 'detailed roadmap' on how cloud investments will advance AI adoption beyond data and computational power. By leveraging the cloud and adopting responsible AI practices, businesses can navigate this transformation and achieve sustainable growth," said Mohammed Rafee Tarafdar, Chief Technology Officer, Infosys.
The findings show that many organizations are still in the experimental phase, fine-tuning their infrastructure to support AI from a cloud perspective. Most of these companies are planning further investments to expedite their infrastructure enhancement.
As cloud technology advances beyond its original roles of storage and cost-efficiency, achieving the full potential of AI and transforming into an 'AI-first enterprise' demands ongoing and substantial investment in cloud infrastructure and strategic planning.
Other reports show that the level of trust in AI is increasing, with over 60% of executives believing that AI would help their companies drive better results and reach their goals.
Cloud infrastructure maturity
Approximately 67% of the surveyed companies boast a 'developed' or 'advanced' cloud infrastructure, while 33% are in the 'growing' or 'nascent' stages.
Moreover, fewer than 10% of executives have successfully embedded AI into their operational frameworks. Nearly 48% are in the experimentation phase with AI, but only 8% have fully integrated it into their business operations.
Optimization strategies for cloud systems
Strategies for optimizing cloud infrastructure to support AI initiatives vary widely. Half of the executives leverage cloud services exclusively for data integration related to AI, 30% utilize cloud infrastructure for its computing capabilities, and only 13% possess a detailed roadmap for advancing AI adoption beyond data and computing power.
Challenges
Issues such as complexity, security, and data management present significant hurdles. About 45% of respondents highlight concerns over data security, ethical data use, privacy, and overall safety as key obstacles to their cloud readiness for AI.
Investment in cloud systems is expected to rise significantly, with 71% of executives anticipating at least a 25% increase in cloud infrastructure spending for AI in the next two years. Over a quarter (27%) foresee a 50-100% increase.
