Dive Brief:
- More than two-thirds of companies deploying artificial intelligence (AI) projects do not expect the pandemic to negatively impact their AI strategy according to a survey of 374 line-of-business and technology leaders published by software company Appen.
- In the wake of COVID-19, 41% of companies accelerated their AI strategies, with one in every five companies "significantly" speeding up their strategy. One-third of leaders report their companies have seen their AI strategy delayed either "somewhat" or "significantly."
- Out of every 10 organizations, seven report C-suite ownership over AI initiatives. In last year's study, that ratio was 40%.
Dive Insight:
The disruption of COVID-19 has tech leaders cautiously reevaluating where to allocate resources. When AI comes under the microscope, executives want to know how it will help them do more with less.
Business experiences from the early pandemic days will shape tech strategies for years to come, as companies lean into the tech stack what made their operations run smoothly. For AI, this matches the move toward operationalization — and away from the pilot stage — that Gartner projects will take place at 75% of companies by 2024.
One in every five chief financial officers says tech investments can help lower costs, according to a PwC survey. More than half (56%) of respondents say technology investments will boost the long-term efficiency of their company.
AI applications were key to businesses responding to significant disruption. Chatbots helped airlines manage a massive spike in cancellations, while automated IT help desks eased companywide pivots to distributed work.
Once thought of as long-term projects, when digital transformation efforts became urgent they were delivered "in a matter of weeks" at 71% of organizations, a survey from AppDynamics showed. Improving digital customer experiences was the key desired outcome for 88% of respondents.
