Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are the technologies of the future. Almost every sector can benefit from assistance systems or predictive maintenance of machines. However, there is still room for improvement in many areas. This study surveyed companies from a range of sectors on their assessment of AI and ML.
How companies are prioritizing and implementing AI and ML today
The new IDG study “Machine Learning/Deep Learning 2018”
The cultural shift is coming – pioneering technologies are on the rise
Regardless of whether it’s in logistics, production, retail or the financial sector, companies can only be well positioned for the long run if they use the pioneering technologies of AI and ML. And the competition never rests. France, for instance, is making huge investments, and the German companies taking part in the study also want to engage more with the possibilities of AI and ML and deep learning. They are aware of the potential, but are all too often hesitant to seize it. According to the study’s author, a little more courage in this regard would do a world of good.
The study contains:
- detailed figures on what decision makers and IT experts from more than 300 companies think about AI and ML, as well as key findings and a glimpse into the future of these technologies,
- explanations about the specific fields of application and the challenges that companies have to overcome in implementation,
- an overview of the AI methods used most often at companies,
- assessments of the risks that are feared when it comes to the implementation of AI and ML, and
- answers to the question of which IT issues will become more relevant in the years ahead.
Find out how high-ranking decision makers assess the current state of AI and ML for their companies (only available in German).
Click here to download the summarized key findings of the IDG study “Machine Learning/Deep Learning 2018” (only available in German).
The study was carried out by IDG Research Services in February 2018. The survey included 345 companies and of various sizes and with varying levels of annual income from a range of sectors. Lufthansa Industry Solutions is a partner of the study and also took part in the expert roundtables carried out for the study.
All key findings and additional study results can be found in their entirety in the study itself, which you can download for free (only available in German). Below are some of the study’s most important insights.
Setting priorities: AI and ML are keeping companies busy
The topics of artificial intelligence and machine learning are highly relevant to businesses; 25.2 percent intend to engage intensively with it in the year after the survey, putting the issue in fourth place among IT matters. Companies that have not yet engaged with these technologies risk being outpaced by the competition going forward. Managing directors and CIOs rank AI and ML higher than employees in departments, at 29 percent versus 21 percent.
The infrastructure exists – but there are not enough specialists
Around 46 percent of companies claim to have the IT infrastructure necessary for AI applications, and 74 percent say they have access to the necessary data. So why are so many businesses still hesitant in this area? At roughly three-quarters of companies, there is a lack of data specialists. Smaller businesses are affected to an even greater degree. For them, competing as employers with larger companies, the necessary specialists are extremely difficult to come by. Good staff is therefore a key factor in a company’s future orientation.
AI is already in use – the top three applications
At many companies, a range of AI applications is already part of day-to-day business. Around 31 percent of them use either voice recognition, assistance systems or planning systems. In terms of prevalence, these are followed by image recognition, autonomous systems, expert systems and robotics.
Concerns about possible cyberattacks are hampering the expansion of AI and ML
AI and ML harbor enormous potential that can still be utilized. However, many companies are afraid of the possible risks. Twenty-seven percent believe that hacker attacks and industrial espionage could increase. Almost 27 percent of respondents are concerned about compliance risks. These figures are even higher among IT experts (30 percent and 32 percent).
To view all results in detail and find out more about the possible applications of AI and ML, download the free PDF of the “Machine Learning/Deep Learning 2018” study here (only available in German).
