A recent survey conducted by Salesforce of 600 IT leaders has uncovered a pressing demand from their superiors: Integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into the technology stack quickly. However, the response from IT professionals has been hesitant, with concerns revolving around resources, data security, and data quality.
Nearly three in five IT professionals express frustration with unrealistic expectations from business stakeholders regarding the speed and flexibility of new technology implementations. Surprisingly, almost nine in 10 IT professionals admit they are unable to keep up with the influx of AI-related requests within their organizations.
The study also found that 90% of IT leaders struggle to seamlessly integrate AI with other systems, underscoring the complexity of adopting AI technologies. The MuleSoft Connectivity Benchmark Report, based on interviews with 1,050 IT leaders worldwide, emphasizes the need for a coherent IT strategy in light of the AI adoption explosion.
The report highlights that the integration and security concerns are the primary obstacles hindering AI adoption. With 991 apps on average in an enterprise, IT budgets are on the rise to meet the growing demand for AI technologies.
Moreover, the survey reveals that data silos and systems fragility are impeding the progress of many companies. A staggering 98% of IT leaders report facing challenges related to digital transformation, with data silos and systems dependency being the key drivers.
In today’s experience-led economy, business success relies heavily on trust, data, AI, and automation. However, concerns regarding data security, ethics, and bias surrounding GenAI persist among customers. The path to implementing AI in a secure, scalable, and value-driven manner requires more than just technology – it necessitates “deployment empathy.”
To delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the adoption of AI technologies, Constellation Research CEO Ray Wang and I welcomed three business technology leaders on our podcast, DisrupTV. Teresa Carlson, Rhonda Vetere, and Dr. David Bray discussed the importance of deployment empathy in successfully launching AI initiatives.
Teresa emphasized the need for radical collaboration between public and private sectors when implementing AI in government settings. Rhonda stressed the significance of transparency and reskilling plans to alleviate anxiety among employees regarding AI automation’s impact on jobs and skills.
Dr. David Bray highlighted the societal changes catalyzed by AI technologies, underscoring the importance of empathetic leadership in navigating these changes. He emphasized the need for a balance between innovation and security, customer value, and business continuity.
In conclusion, the adoption of AI technologies requires a human-centric approach focused on the impact on people and jobs – deployment empathy. Leaders must prioritize empathy, transparency, and thoughtful change management to ensure a smooth transition into the GenAI era.