At a Glance

  • According to a survey released Tuesday by consulting firm Protiviti, only 8% of surveyed companies are in the "transformation" stage of AI adoption, a mature phase where the technology is driving significant business change.
  • The study categorizes companies into different maturity levels based on theAI adoption curve, with "transformation" being the highest level. Among them, 32% of organizations are in the experimentation stage, the largest share.
  • Christine Livingston, global leader of Protiviti's AI business, said in apress releasethat "to move beyond experimentation and realize AI's potential value, executives must completely redefine success criteria, shifting focus from short-term cost savings to strategic growth, revenue enhancement, and innovation."

Deep Insights

According to a report released by Bain & Company in May this year, companies are increasing their financial and talent investments in generative AI, with average annual budgets of approximately $10 million, up 102% from February 2024 levels.

Protiviti noted that despite rising AI adoption rates, organizations at all maturity levels face obstacles that could slow or hinder progress. The most frequently cited challenges include data availability and access issues, as well as conflicting regulatory guidance.

Protiviti's research divides respondents into five stages of AI maturity:

  • Initial Stage:Organizations recognize the potential benefits of AI but have limited understanding of the technology, no strategic initiatives, and key performance indicators have not yet been defined.
  • Experimentation Stage:Organizations have launched small-scale AI projects and pilot programs to assess feasibility and benefits.
  • Definition Stage:Organizations have integrated AI solutions into existing business processes, improving operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.
  • Optimization Stage:Organizations have optimized AI systems for performance and scalability, with continuous improvement based on data feedback.
  • Transformation Stage:AI drives significant business transformation within organizations, creating new opportunities.

The report shows that the survey results clearly reveal a correlation between AI maturity and return on investment. The press release states: "Organizations often see no quantifiable returns in the very early stages, but as they build capabilities and fully integrate AI, they will see demonstrable value."

Protiviti's survey covered more than 1,000 respondents across industries and geographies.