If you’ve ever assembled a large jigsaw While our survey findings revealed many unexpected insights, here are some of the puzzle, you know that for most of the most important findings, all of which this report examines in detail: time it takes to put it together, it looks like an incoherent mess. Small sections, AI IS WORKING made up of only a few connected Survey respondents report that they are encountering real success with AI, on a pieces, sit isolated from one another, number of important fronts. slowly gaining size as you find pieces here and there. But eventually the THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED AI SEE A STRONG momentum shifts, and the glacial pace CONNECTION BETWEEN AI AND ANALYTICS turns into a race to the finish – large 1 chunks of the puzzle are united quickly, Those who have deployed AI with more success were more likely than others to view and it all snaps into shape. AI as being strongly connected to analytics. When examining the survey responses of FULL DEPLOYMENT LEVELS SIGNAL HEALTHY MOMENTUM more than 300 executives across industries Many respondents have moved beyond the experimental phase of AI deployment focused on artificial intelligence (AI) at large into more widespread applications. companies around the world, it appears likely that we are on the verge of a similar AI OVERSIGHT IS NOT OPTIONAL momentum shift. Critical parts of the AI puzzle – specific technologies, capabilities, processes Leaders in AI – those who report having successfully deployed AI already – are putting and more – are being assembled in different processes in place for reviewing the outputs of AI-enabled systems, overriding parts of businesses, in different industries, questionable results and more – pointing to new levels of AI maturity. addressing different challenges. We are rapidly approaching a “critical mass” moment in which the entire picture comes into view. ETHICAL USE OF AI IS TOP OF MIND The responses submitted by many of these Most respondents report having ethics-focused processes already in place. executives show a level of enthusiasm and AI-focused activity that point to an explosion of AI adoption just around the corner, even as WHILE EMPLOYERS DON’T ANTICIPATE A BIG IMPACT ON JOBS FROM AI, gaps in capabilities and strategy are revealed. EMPLOYEES MAY BE NERVOUS Already, 72 percent of the organizations we Consistent with many reports suggesting that the threat of job loss from AI may be surveyed have either deployed AI-based greatly overestimated, these respondents do not believe large-scale job loss is likely. technology or are in the process of doing so. Some, however, are concerned about employee perceptions of the impact of AI. 1 This survey asked respondents “Are you or your team developing or deploying artificial intelligence-based technology?”, with the option of answering “Yes, it has been deployed,” “It is under development,” “We are considering/planning deployment,” “Not at this time,” or “Unsure.” Separately, we asked respondents to “Rate the impact of deployment of AI-based technologies on your operations,” with the option of answering “Unsuccessful,” “Slightly successful,” “Mixed results,” “Successful,” “Highly successful,” or “Too early to tell.” For the purposes of this survey report, we have chosen to define “leaders who have successfully deployed AI” as those who answered “Yes, it has been deployed” or “Under 4 deployment” and also indicated that their efforts were either “Successful” or “Highly successful.”