Intelligent CIO North America Issue 54 | Page 44

CIO OPINION
The path to AI maturity is not without its challenges , but the rewards are significant .

Closing the AI maturity gap : Strategies for driving growth and efficiency in modern enterprise

Dr Paul Pallath , VP of Applied Science , Searce , says by focusing on AI adoption strategies for competitive advantage , companies can bridge the gap between ambition and execution .

AI , particularly Generative AI ( GenAI ), is transforming businesses , driving growth and enhancing efficiency . As more organisations adopt AI , the AI maturity gap in business transformation has become a focal point . Closing this gap is essential for businesses to remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape .

AI is now seen as a key driver for growth . It ’ s predicted to add trillions to the global economy , prompting significant investment .
Searce ’ s 2024 State of AI study polled 300 C-Suite and senior technology executives from organisations across the US and UK with at least $ 500 million in revenue , revealing that nearly 10 % of organisations are investing over $ 25 million annually in AI projects .
However , only 51 % of respondents say their AI initiatives have been “ very successful ”.
Success with AI isn ’ t just about pouring money into technology – it ’ s about overcoming the obstacles to full-scale implementation .
Bridging the AI maturity divide
Despite the excitement around AI , many organisations struggle to move beyond pilot projects . The challenges that companies face highlight the AI maturity gap – where ambitions often exceed execution .
Firstly , while C-suite executives across various functions generally agree that data privacy and security are the primary barriers to AI adoption , Chief Data
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