The 2024 Global Trends in AI report, conducted by S&P Global Market Intelligence and commissioned by WEKA, reveals critical insights into the rapid evolution of AI adoption and its impact on businesses worldwide. The survey, which included over 1,500 AI practitioners and decision-makers, highlights key trends and practices of organizations leading the AI revolution, especially since the emergence of generative AI models like ChatGPT-3 in early 2023.
Key Findings and Insights
1. Rapid Growth of Generative AI
- Generative AI adoption has skyrocketed, with 88% of organizations exploring its applications, surpassing other AI uses like prediction models (61%), classification (51%), and robotics (30%).
- 24% of companies have fully integrated generative AI into their operations, while 37% have it in production but not yet scaled. Only 11% are not investing in generative AI.
2. AI’s Increasing Pervasiveness in Enterprises
- AI is becoming integral in business operations, with 33% of surveyed organizations achieving enterprise-wide scale in AI projects, up from 28% last year.
- North America leads in AI adoption with 48% penetration, ahead of APAC (26%) and EMEA (25%).
- Key drivers for AI investment include enhancing product quality (42%), increasing revenue (39%), boosting workforce productivity (40%), and improving IT efficiencies (41%).
3. Challenges in Scaling AI Projects
- Many AI projects fail to scale, often due to legacy data architectures. Organizations typically have numerous AI projects in the pilot or limited deployment phases, but few reach full deployment.
- Data quality issues are the primary challenge, with storage and data management cited as significant inhibitors (35%) compared to computing (26%) and security (23%).
4. Infrastructure and GPU Availability
- GPU availability remains a critical bottleneck, influencing infrastructure decisions for 40% of organizations.
- Access to AI accelerators is a key factor, with 46% of respondents using hyperscale public clouds and 32% turning to GPU cloud service providers for model training.
5. Environmental Concerns and Sustainable AI Practices
- Environmental impacts are a concern for 64% of organizations, particularly regarding energy use and carbon footprint.
- 42% have invested in energy-efficient IT hardware and systems, with 56% of those seeing significant positive impacts on their sustainability efforts.
The 2024 Trends in AI report underscores the rapid pace of AI adoption and its transformative impact on businesses. While leaders in AI are reaping significant benefits in innovation, efficiency, and revenue, many organizations still face challenges in scaling their AI initiatives, particularly due to data architecture and infrastructure limitations. To thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, businesses must prioritize scalable AI strategies, invest in robust data infrastructures, and form strategic partnerships to navigate the complexities of AI implementation.
