Experts seem to agree that Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation are fundamentally unavoidable and exclusively necessary.
Several articles state how important it is that companies adopt A.I. or any one of the application areas (e.g. machine learning, automation or robotics) – be it by gaining insights through data analysis, automating business processes, or engaging with customers using natural language processing chatbots. Reasons for this include financial gains, work efficiency, increases in security, enhancement of the customer experience, among many other benefits.2,3,4
Consensus about the advantage is great. It might then surprise you to learn that we still have a long way to go.
Did you know that only 44% of organizations are adequately preparing for the digital disruptions they anticipate?4
Globally, what is the status quo? To what extent are companies committing to A.I. and making use of its potentiality?
A quantitative study in 2019 by CompTIA3 highlights the challenge it is for companies to fully embrace Artificial Intelligence. In their survey report conducted in the United States with a total of 500 businesses, only 29% of companies said that A.I. was built into their current technology toolset and regularly used and 31% noted no regular use.
A global survey in 2019 by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group5 with over 2500 respondents from 29 industries and 97 countries divided the sample into four subgroups based on their demonstrated A.I. maturity (extent to which they show they understand the tools and concepts, as well as, adopt A.I.). The results are as followed:
A global survey in 2019 by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group5
- 32% of the companies were classified as Passives. They demonstrated no A.I. adoption and little understanding of the technology.
- Only 20% were considered Pioneers. These companies revealed both understanding and adoption of A.I.
- The remainder were categorized as Investigators (30%, show some knowledge but usage in pilot stage) and Experimenters (18%, piloting A.I. without a deep understanding).
So where is your company today? How successful have you been in leading your company towards this unavoidable future?
References:
2. T. H. Davenport & R. Ronanki, “Artificial Intelligence for the Real World,” Harvard Business Review, January-February, 2018.
3. Research Report “Emerging Business Opportunities In AI,” CompTIA, May, 2019.
4. G. C. Kane, D. Palmer, A. N. Phillips, D. Kiron, & N. B, “Aligning The Organization For Its Digital Future,” MIT Sloan Management Review in collaboration with Deloitte University Press, July, 2016.
5. S. Ransbotham, S. Khodabandeh, R. Fehling, B. LaFountain, D. Kiron, “Winning With AI,” MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group, October 2019.
