Analytics-Fueled AI Drives Better Business Decisions and Productivity

With artificial intelligence (AI) deployments growing more commonplace for enterprises, the majority of organizations indicate that these efforts have met with success, according to a recent survey from SAS, Accenture Applied Intelligence and Intel. The resulting report, titled “AI Momentum, Maturity and Models for Success,” indicates that most companies are incorporating analytics within their AI initiatives. With this, they’re able to improve business decision-making while boosting productivity. More than 300 CIOs, CTOs and other technology leaders took part in the research, which was conducted by Forbes Insights. The following slide show features survey highlights, with charts provided courtesy of SAS, Accenture Applied Intelligence and Intel.

Just over one-half of respondents consider their company’s AI deployments as successful. About one in five say these deployments are “highly” successful.

Three of five respondents said that AI enables more accurate forecasting and decision-making. Just over one-half said it enhances their ability to acquire customers.

Nearly one-half of respondents said AI boosts organizational productivity, while reducing or eliminating manual tasks. About the same number said it leads to better resource utilization and reduced operating costs.

Seven of 10 respondents said they expect that analytics will have no less than a “moderate” role in their AI efforts. Thirty-eight percent said it will have either a “major” or “full and central” role.

In listing organizational areas in which companies are most deploying AI, external communications (such as marketing and social media) ranked first, as cited by 71 percent of respondents. Sales and non-external marketing ranked second, as cited by 66 percent.

Among respondents who reported that their organization has deployed AI successfully, 74 percent said their company reviews AI output at least weekly. In contrast, just 33 percent of respondents at less successful businesses reported the same.

Among respondents who indicate that their company has deployed AI successfully, 71 percent anticipate that these efforts will improve more than one-quarter of their organization’s processes over the next three years. Within less successful organizations, only 5 percent of respondents expect this to happen.

At more successful AI companies, 92 percent of respondents said their organization has conducted ethics training for their AI technologists. Less than one-half of those at less successful businesses reported the same.

The findings reveal that 63 percent of organizations have launched an ethics committee to review the use of AI. Another 13 percent are considering the launch of an ethics committee.

Nearly three of five respondents overall do not anticipate any impact on their company’s jobs due to AI deployments. Sixty-four percent, in fact, said their organization is already seeing job roles elevated due to AI.