Despite growing interest and enthusiasm for generative AI, major challenges remain that threaten the success of such projects, new research shows.
A Hitachi Vantara survey of IT and business leaders from the US, Canada and Western Europe found that infrastructure is a key focus as GenAI projects progress.
It found that an overwhelming majority (97%) now consider generative AI to be one of their top five priorities, even though they are not yet ready for it.
GenAI projects rely on solid infrastructure
As AI tools have flooded the market over the past two years, numerous studies have shown how much the technology relies on strong data foundations. While this is still true, Hitachi says that companies are not paying enough attention to their infrastructure.
Worryingly, only one in three (37%) believe their infrastructure and data ecosystem is well prepared.
Furthermore, less than half (44%) of organizations have a well-defined and comprehensive GenAI policy, three in five (61%) agree that most users do not know how to leverage the technology, and half (51%) are concerned about a lack of skilled workers.
Ayman Abouelwafa, CTO of Hitachi Vantara, sums it up: “Enterprises are clearly jumping on the GenAI bandwagon, which is not surprising, but it is also clear that the foundation for successful GenAI has not yet been fully laid to meet its purpose and its full potential cannot be realised.”
Automation and optimization (37%), predictive analytics (36%), and fraud detection (35%) are found to be important factors for GenAI adoption. Businesses are still concerned about privacy and compliance (81%) and data quality issues (77%). Both can be addressed with strategic and proper foundations, including a suitable infrastructure.