IBM has released its Global AI Adoption Index 2022, research commissioned by IBM in partnership with Morning Consult. IBM’s annual poll of global IT senior decision makers found that AI adoption continued at a measured pace worldwide. According to the IBM report, the global AI adoption rate grew steadily and now is 35%, a four-point increase from the year before, and, in some industries and countries, the use of AI is nearly ubiquitous. AI is delivering new benefits and efficiencies to organizations through new automation capabilities, ease of use and accessibility, and a variety of use cases.
The report showed that AI is both being applied through off-the-shelf solutions such as virtual assistants and embedded in existing business operations such as IT processes, and—bolstering evidence about the importance of accessibility—44% of organizations are working to embed AI into current applications and processes.
However, while progress has been made, there’s still work to be done to ensure that consumers are receptive to AI by making sure that AI is acting responsibly, the report pointed out. The study said that a majority of organizations that have adopted AI haven’t taken key steps to ensure their AI is trustworthy and responsible, such as reducing unintended bias. At the same time, companies are also applying AI to more far-reaching challenges with greater social and environmental impact, for example by addressing skills or labor shortages or helping to advance environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related initiatives and reducing their environmental impact. Two-thirds of companies are already or are planning to apply AI to their sustainability-related goals.
Highlights from the report include:
- AI adoption: AI adoption has been gradual as organizations work to implement holistic strategies, but the long-term trend is clear: only one in five companies today don’t plan to use AI.
- Skills: Lack of skills remains a barrier to adoption, but AI is also helping to rectify labor gaps by automating tasks.
- Trustworthy AI: While organizations have embraced AI, few have made tangible investments in ways to ensure trust or address bias.
- Sustainability: AI is already playing a role in helping companies go green, analyze impact and make operations more sustainable.
- Use cases: Automation use cases are at the forefront as companies use AI to stay competitive and operate more efficiently.
The IBM report is available for download at www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/GVAGA3JP.