IDC and IBM call out best practices for scaling AI as investments set to double

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The COVID-19 pandemic revealed both our collective fragility and resilience – and for many organizations, it was also an impetus to charge full steam ahead with their AI plans — with worldwide spending on AI technology is expected to more than double over the next four years, according to IDC [1].

As AI secures top billing on the world’s technology stage, CIOs and CDOs leading the charge are finally, finally, getting their chance to forage deeper into their organization’s data and unfurl its previously untapped potential for the good of the customer, the constituent, and the community.

But as organizations tread into unknown territory, AI can be likened to a tree of knowledge that requires extremely careful tending and cultivating in its ardent pursuit. And those well-versed in bringing AI into our collective experience – from the researchers and technologists to the first movers — deserve our attention.

To close the gap between those about to embark and those who have gone before, we paired IDC’s top analysts together with some of IBM’s most respected data and AI leaders to unpack the latest research on AI’s impact, unveil forces shaping AI and swap notes on where it’s netting the best results. These four interactions are steeped in IBM’s thesis that enterprises are predicting and shaping future outcomes and automating at scale in four distinct areas:

In her introduction to the series, Ritu Jyoti, Program Vice President of AI Research at IDC makes a direct correlation between superior business outcomes and AI investment, noting both the importance of both hybrid cloud and trustworthy AI.

Her recent research cites that companies that invest in AI experiences see 1.5x higher NPS scores than those who don’t with an approximately 20% improvement in both customer experience and employee efficiency. [2]

AI for business, as opposed to consumer AI, has four characteristics, responds Scott Hebner, IBM Data and AI Vice President and CMO, breaking down findings from over IBM’s 30,000 data and AI engagements.

It must run anywhere and integrate in a hybrid cloud setting; speak the language of business – and be fluent in industry terminology; intelligently automate workflows and experiences and provide trusted business outcomes. What’s more, it’s not just a technology you buy and install. It’s a progressive agile journey marked by massive learning.

Next, watch this four-part series, each consisting of 10-minute conversations with IDC analysts and IBM experts covering: Reducing risk, unlocking data, integrating AI and scaling AI to accelerate digital transformation.

Reducing reputational and regulatory risk

How do organizations bridge compliance and innovation – and how does a well-governed data environment supported by automation and AI help minimize risks? Watch this discussion between IDC analyst Steven D’Alfonso, Research Director, Compliance, Fraud and Risk Analytics Strategies and Inderpal Bhandari, IBM’s Global Chief Data Officer.

Unlocking data

Today, organizations are consumed with preparing data for productive uses, creating a bottleneck for business agility, competitiveness, and profitability. How can they build an information architecture designed for AI that eliminates data silos; automates and governs the data and AI lifecycle — and runs anywhere with agility? Join this discussion between Stewart Bond Research Director of IDC’s Data Integration and Intelligence Software Services and Susara van den Heever, IBM Director of Expert Labs and Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Integrating AI

Organizations need to react rapidly to the changing needs of their employees, their citizens, and their clients. How are organizations meeting rising customer and employees demands? IDC’s Jennifer Hamel, Research Manager for Analytics and Intelligent Automation Services and Betsy Schaefer, Director Watson Marketing, IBM Data and AI discuss how to close the gap between the expectation and the reality of deploying AI within workflows.

Scaling AI to accelerate digital transformation

What’s the role of AI in the broader spectrum of digital re-invention and transformation?  Shawn Fitzgerald, Research Director for IDC’s Worldwide Digital Transformation Strategies practice and IBM Seth Dobrin, Ph.D., IBM Global Chief AI Officer consider how AI can shift to a strategic capability throughout the organization to better serve constituents. Learn about three proven concepts: An open, extensible data and AI platform that runs on any cloud, bringing AI to your data.

Accelerate your AI journey with a prescriptive approach

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[1] Global spending on artificial intelligence (AI) is forecast to double over the next four years, growing from $50.1 billion in 2020 to more than $110 billion in 2024. Source: International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Artificial Intelligence Spending Guide.

[2] Source: International Data Corporation (IDC) AI Strategies View 2020: Executive Summary (Doc #US46261720), Ritu Jyoti, June 10, 2020

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