Only 14% of global companies are fully prepared to utilize and capitalize on artificial intelligence, as indicated by Cisco’s AI Readiness Index.
Cisco highlights significant gaps in crucial business areas that pose “major risks,” compounded by the struggle of most organizations to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI technology.
With 61% of survey respondents expressing that they have a maximum of one month to implement an AI strategy before facing significant negative consequences, the race to integrate AI into business operations is intensifying.
Liz Centoni, the Executive Vice President, General Manager of Applications, and Chief Strategy Officer at Cisco, emphasized the urgency for organizations to swiftly transition from strategic planning to execution to leverage the transformative potential of AI, stating that “The race to AI Readiness is on.”
Businesses are urged to adopt solutions that ensure the security and monitoring of their AI models and toolchains to guarantee efficiency, protect sensitive data and systems, and deliver consistent and reliable AI outcomes essential for maximizing the benefits of AI-driven products and services.
Insights from the AI Readiness Index
The AI Readiness Index, based on a survey of over 800 global businesses, was established in response to the rapid adoption of AI solutions driven by advancements in generative AI technologies.
While the proliferation of AI applications has brought new challenges, particularly concerning data privacy and security, 81% of respondents acknowledged having fragmented or incomplete data within their organizations.
Despite the critical role of data in AI operations, it appears to be the least prepared area within organizations, with a significant portion (17%) lagging behind.
On a positive note, the findings indicate that businesses are proactively preparing for the AI era. Nearly one-third of respondents have developed strategies, possibly influenced by 97% of respondents recognizing the growing importance of AI technology deployments in the past six months.
Moreover, 95% of organizations have already established or are in the process of developing a well-defined artificial intelligence strategy.
It is evident that many networks lack the necessary infrastructure to support AI workloads effectively. Only 17% of organizations possess networks capable of handling this complexity, despite 95% acknowledging the increased infrastructure demands posed by AI. Additionally, 23% of businesses lack the flexibility required to address AI challenges within their existing IT framework.
The report reveals a misalignment in AI aspirations across corporate hierarchies. While 76% of organizations lack a comprehensive AI policy, nearly one-third of employees exhibit reluctance towards AI adoption. However, 82% of executive teams exhibit moderate to high openness towards AI, highlighting a disparity in enthusiasm across different organizational levels.
The delayed adoption of AI policies could potentially erode trust and confidence, particularly concerning data privacy and sovereignty issues.
Furthermore, only 21% of organizations have detailed change management plans in place for widespread AI implementation. Despite this, the majority of respondents (80%) express a moderate to high level of commitment towards integrating AI systems within their organizations.
AI Integration in Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C)
The integration of AI into product offerings is now widespread among vendors in the unified communications and collaboration sector.
Following the introduction of Open AI’s ChatGPT, which introduced advanced AI technologies to the market, vendors in enterprise communication and collaboration have been racing to meet the escalating demand for AI capabilities.
Leading tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Zoom have introduced innovative AI features like Bard, Gemini, Copilot, Einstein, and AI-powered associates, reflecting the industry’s rapid evolution towards AI integration.
Moreover, emerging players like Anthropic and Humane are introducing groundbreaking AI solutions, such as portable AI assistants and conversational AI systems, catering to diverse user needs and preferences in the market.
