Survey: AI speeding past ‘hype’ and toward ‘mature’ adoption, though IT and OT differ in use
The results of a survey released just before Halloween had anything but frightful revelations about the speed at which AI is moving through manufacturing, proclaiming the “hype is over” and predicting that the technology is already on a rapid trek toward mature adoption.
The results were part of the AI Opportunity Report, from Göppingen, Germany-based remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solution provider TeamViewer, and showed that 80% of U.S. business leaders report their organizations’ AI adoption is mature, and 65% are "sick of the hype" and demand practical implementations of AI for their businesses.
See also: How to avoid the AI hype-to-disillusionment cycle
According to the report, 81% of top U.S. decision-makers use AI at least weekly, up from 60% at this time last year, a 35% increase year-over-year, and 72% of these leaders rate their AI use as mature.
The survey also revealed a “significant gap” between how much IT decision-makers and their OT counterparts use AI. According to the results, 83% of IT decision-makers use AI at least once a week, and 42% use it every day, while 72% OT use the technology once a week, 25% every day.
OT decision-makers’ weekly use of AI has doubled in the last year (from 38% to 72%), according to the Opportunity Report, and daily use has more than tripled (8% to 25%) in the last year.
The respondents numbered 1,400 (500 in the U.S.) IT, business, and OT decision-makers across the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and the U.S. The research was conducted online by Sapio Research in August and September.
AI has become vital to financial outcomes
Most U.S. business leaders (72%) also agree that AI is vital to improving their organization’s financial outcomes. Accordingly, two-thirds (66%) in the TeamViewer survey agree that the technology will positively affect revenue over the next year, with respondents saying that the technology makes an average of 249% revenue growth possible.
See also: Report shows ‘fear of missing out’ drives most AI adoptions
Additionally, nearly a quarter of respondents in the U.S. (23%) said they believe that not implementing AI risks falling behind competitors. Also, 24% of the survey respondents foresee increased costs due to a lack of automation.
“AI adoption is growing rapidly as businesses increasingly recognize its tangible benefits in driving productivity and streamlining operations,” said Mei Dent, TeamViewer’s chief product and technology officer.
Trust, security, career advancement, equality
The report also delves into other topics gauging business leaders’ current perceptions of AI:
- Trust in the technology: 50% of U.S. business leaders trust AI to act on business forecasts and make business decisions—and a notable 42% trust AI to make decisions without human oversight.
- Security: 75% of U.S. business leaders are concerned about data management in the use of AI and 67% would consider banning its use outside of the IT team, meaning exclude it from their OT.
- Career advancement: 75% of U.S. business leaders in the survey believe AI is a key skill to enhance their careers with almost as many—73%—saying AI has given them the chance to learn new skills they otherwise would not have.
- The Great Equalizer: 72% of U.S. business leaders believe AI can help create equal job opportunities for parents and caregivers while 79% think AI can help increase accessibility in the workplace.
With 73% of U.S. respondents saying they believe AI will drive the biggest productivity boom in a century and business leaders reporting that AI saves U.S. IT professionals about 16 hours per month, there is clearly huge momentum for increasing AI use in business, the survey concludes.
