India Inc's AI moment: Over 59 per cent enterprises have deployed AI, says IBM report

A recent study commissioned by IBM sheds light on the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within Indian enterprises, with findings indicating that a significant majority, totalling 59 per cent, have actively implemented AI strategies into their operations. According to Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India & South Asia, the surge in AI adoption underscores the tangible benefits experienced by businesses leveraging this technology. Despite this positive momentum, Patel emphasizes the need for a more extensive embrace of AI at scale, highlighting a lingering hesitancy among some enterprises to transition beyond experimental phases. Crucially, Patel underscores the importance of robust data and AI governance tools in ensuring responsible AI model development. Without such measures in place, enterprises risk exposure to various challenges, including data privacy breaches, legal entanglements, and ethical dilemmas. The IBM Global AI Adoption Index, conducted in collaboration with Morning Consult, unveils further insights into the AI landscape within Indian enterprises. Among the key findings, 59 per cent of IT professionals within large organizations report active deployment of AI, with an additional 27 per cent exploring its potential applications. Moreover, a notable 60 per cent of IT professionals affirm their companies’ active pursuit implementing generative AI. Notably, a significant portion of professionals involved in AI endeavours indicates an acceleration in investment and rollout efforts over the past two years, directing resources toward areas such as research and development, workforce upskilling, and the development of proprietary AI solutions. Despite this momentum, several barriers impede the seamless integration of AI technologies. Among the foremost challenges cited by enterprises either exploring or deploying AI are limited expertise in AI (30 per cent), inadequate tools for AI model development (28 per cent), complexities in project integration and scalability (27 per cent), ethical considerations (26 per cent), and the challenges posed by data complexity (25 per cent). As Indian enterprises navigate the evolving landscape of AI adoption, the study underscores the imperative of addressing these barriers while capitalizing on the transformative potential of AI technologies to drive innovation and competitiveness in the digital age.