To support some of the previous articles and insights that I have published around the future of AI in our industry, I am sharing my takeaways from a recent research report from NTT.

 

The NTT report outlines several key trends regarding the adoption and impact of Generative AI (GenAI) across global organizations. Here is a narrative around ten notable trends:

 

1. Growing Adoption and Optimism: A significant majority of organizations, 9 in 10, are actively exploring GenAI opportunities. Global sentiment is optimistic, with 96% of respondents highlighting a growing emphasis on GenAI's long-term potential.

 

2. Challenges with Legacy Infrastructure: 90% of respondents acknowledge that outdated infrastructure hinders the effective use of GenAI. This indicates a crucial need for technological upgrades to fully leverage GenAI capabilities.

 

3. Strategic Importance and Satisfaction: Establishing dedicated GenAI teams significantly boosts satisfaction levels. Organizations with such teams are nearly three times more likely to be satisfied with their GenAI efforts.

 

4. Security Concerns and Opportunities: While there is a high concern over security risks, with 89% of the C-suite expressing worry, the potential returns of GenAI seem to outweigh these risks. However, only a minority firmly believe that these risks are well managed.

 

5. Skill Gaps and Training Needs: Two-thirds of organizations admit their employees lack the necessary skills for GenAI. Approximately half are taking steps towards education and training to facilitate wider GenAI adoption.

 

6. Regulatory Uncertainty: Unclear government regulations are perceived to inhibit GenAI innovation, with 8 in 10 organizations expressing this concern. This regulatory ambiguity stifles both innovation and investment.

 

7. Investment Trends: A considerable 99% of organizations intend to increase their investment in GenAI, with many planning substantial allocations.

 

8. Sustainability Challenges: GenAI ambitions sometimes conflict with sustainability goals. Nonetheless, 94% of organizations aim to use renewable energy to power their GenAI infrastructure, highlighting a focus on sustainable practices.

 

9. Impact on Creativity and Productivity: GenAI is seen as a driver of creativity and productivity, with many organizations considering how it can streamline workflows and improve R&D efforts.

 

10. Proven Use Cases and ROI: Organizations emphasize the importance of real-world use cases that demonstrate a return on investment (ROI) in guiding their GenAI strategies. Top use cases include personalized service recommendations, product design, and quality control.

 

These trends reflect a dynamic landscape where GenAI is increasingly seen as transformative, albeit with needing careful management of challenges related to infrastructure, security, skills, regulation, and sustainability.

 

Visit NTT or ping me for a copy of the full 150+ page report. 

 

Matt Slonaker