A recent survey conducted for Pure Storage revealed that the majority of UK IT leaders (91%) acknowledge the potential for AI to transform their organization. While nearly all of them plan to adopt AI, a significant number (88%) believe that AI-generated data will soon surpass the capabilities of their current datacentres, with 78% expressing concerns about their infrastructure keeping pace with AI demands.
The survey, titled The innovation race: reducing risk and navigating the AI frontier for future success, highlighted the emergence of AI as a key avenue for innovation in the UK. However, obstacles such as the need for infrastructure upgrades, capacity limitations, rising energy costs, skills shortages, and day-to-day operational challenges are hindering progress. Many respondents also indicated that cybersecurity spending is impeding innovation, with budgets potentially better allocated elsewhere.
Despite these challenges, a significant portion of UK businesses are either already planning to adopt AI or are in the process of doing so. Additionally, 42% have developed an AI-first strategy, incorporating AI into every new use case. The main benefits of AI, as identified by respondents, include enhanced efficiency, task automation, personalized customer experiences, and data-driven decision-making.
Looking ahead, nearly half of IT budgets and a significant amount of department time are projected to be allocated to AI initiatives in the coming year. However, the survey also revealed concerns about the scalability of datacentres to accommodate the growing volume of AI-generated data, as well as the impact of rising energy costs and cyber threats.
In light of these challenges, UK IT leaders are urged to prioritize addressing infrastructure needs, assessing AI readiness with a hybrid approach, and finding a balance between security and innovation. By doing so, organizations can effectively harness the power of AI for future success.