TRENDING operational efficiencies that launch them ahead of their rivals. Intelligent, scalable, secure data infrastructure is a decisive factor as the global competition drives businesses to solidify their AI ambitions and understand how they translate into a true, lasting advantage.”
The AI space race is still anyone’ s game
When asked what region is best positioned to lead AI innovation in the long term, respondents from every country overwhelmingly pointed to the US( 43 %).
Winning organisations will be those that recognise that they require an intelligent data infrastructure in place to ensure unfettered AI innovation.
Gabie Boko, CMO at NetApp
However, everyone sees themselves as AI ready, and every region views themselves as competitive in the global AI innovation race. The report shows that 81 % of global respondents are currently piloting or scaling AI, while 88 % view their organisation as mostly or completely ready to sustain AI transformation. The massive investment in AI innovation around the globe shows that everyone is working to become the world leader in AI innovation. However, some countries are working harder than others, with respondents from India( 29 %) and the UK( 32 %) reporting that they feel extra pressure to compete as China and the US are seen as clear leaders. With all this fierce rivalry and active investment, the field is wide open for any country to achieve that goal.
Driving the global differences in the state of AI innovation are diverging priorities in how it is implemented. Respondents in China put a much greater focus on scalability with 35 % ranking it as a top capability – 11 % higher than the global average – suggesting a focus on rapid deployment to make an early impact. By contrast, leaders in the US, UK and India put a greater emphasis on integration with existing systems. This long-term strategy to enable sustained AI growth may result in greater business value in the future though the short-term approach may drive more immediate results.
Aligning business ambitions and technology reality
While organisations are focused on turbocharging AI innovation, CEOs and IT leaders need to be aligned on the state of their technology environments and plans to drive long-term success and leadership.
In China, the survey indicates there is a critical misalignment between Chinese CEOs and IT leaders— on both AI readiness and actual deployment— which could hinder its long-term leadership potential. Ninetytwo percent of Chinese CEOs report active AI projects, yet only 74 % of Chinese IT leaders say the same. This internal disconnect contrasts sharply with the US, where 61 % of both CEOs and IT leaders rate their organisations
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