More than one-third (39%) of UK technology leaders believe their board has unrealistic expectations over the potential of generative AI tools, according to new research.
An IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Expereo, found most organizations are pinning their hopes on AI to drive business growth, with 88% of tech leaders believing the technology will help them meet business priorities within the next 12 months.
Yet despite this optimism, many tech leaders are aiming to temper expectations and prevent botched implementation projects. More than one-quarter (26%) of respondents said expectations within their organization of what AI can do are “growing faster than their ability to meet them”.
This hesitancy among tech leaders is due to a confluence of implementation challenges - and chief among these was a lack of appropriate infrastructure.
Nearly half (47%) of respondents said their networking and IT infrastructure isn’t ready to support new technologies such as AI. A further 49% warned network performance is limiting - or outright preventing - them from supporting large AI projects.
Notably, concerns over governance and ethics remain a key hurdle for many businesses, and a challenge that makes tech leaders extremely wary. Nearly half (41%) cited these challenges as a leading obstacle to implementing AI in their organization.
Partner capabilities were also identified as a key impediment, according to the study.
Nearly one-third (29%) of tech leaders said current external technology partners lack the capabilities to support AI implementation initiatives in their organization. This lack of partner expertise has a domino effect on adoption projects, with in-house talent unable to rely on external support.
Rash adoption projects cause long-term issues
Expero chief executive Ben Elms warned that many organizations have come to view AI as a “quick fix” and fail to understand the scale and scope of integration projects.
“Setting realistic goals and aligning expectations will be critical to ensuring that AI delivers long-term value, rather than being viewed as a quick fix,” he said.
“While the potential of AI is immense, its successful integration requires careful planning.”
This isn’t the first study to highlight the challenges faced by CIOs since the advent of generative AI. With enterprises globally scrambling to adopt the technology, tech leaders have been placed under immense pressure to deliver projects in often unrealistic timelines.
Moreover, many have grown frustrated at the sharp pivots many organizations have made to tap into the technology, which has left gaps in other areas of technology spending.
A 2024 study from Lenovo, for example, found nearly half of CIOs (48%) said digital transformation efforts were being deprioritized as boards looked to ramp up AI investment.
More than one-third (38%) of CIOs surveyed by Lenovo said increased AI investments had prompted their firm to reallocate spending from critical areas of the business, including sustainability efforts and broader IT modernization plans.
Nearly half (41%) said “AI exploration and adoption is pulling resources and attention away from other key IT areas”.
Alternative research shows that many CIOs have bought into the hype, however, and have displayed the same rash approach to AI adoption.
Analysis from Ardoq last year showed that six-in-ten CIOs experienced ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) with regard to AI, and this prompted a sharp pivot to invest in the technology despite issues surrounding return on investment at the time.
MORE FROM ITPRO
- UK firms are stuck in an “AI pilot purgatory” – here’s how they can drive success
- Only a handful of generative AI projects make it into production
- ROI from AI projects has nosedived – how can IT leaders deliver success?
-
Ruijie Reyee RG-NBS3300-16MG4XS-HP reviewReviews Ideal for budget-conscious SMBs, this versatile switch offers an impressive set of PoE features backed up by subscription-free cloud management
-
The generative AI ‘scramble’ is over - now it’s time to sort your infrastructure or fall behindNews Building out robust infrastructure is key to ensuring future AI success
-
‘AI is coming for your jobs. It’s coming for my job too’: Fiverr CEO urges staff to upskill or be left behindNews The latest in a string of AI skills warnings has urged staff to begin preparing for the worst
-
Anthropic ramps up European expansion with fresh hiring spreeNews Anthropic has unveiled plans to further expand in Europe, adding 100 roles and picking a new EMEA head.
-
How simplicity benefits the IT partner ecosystemSponsored Content Across private cloud and AI adoption, simple approaches can unlock more time and money for IT teams
-
AI skills training can't be left in the hands of big techNews Speakers at Turing's AI UK conference lay out challenges to AI skills readiness
-
The role of AI and cloud in true digital transformationSupported Content Both cloud computing and AI technologies are vital to pushing your business forward, and combining them in the right way can be transformative
-
Generative AI adoption is 'creating deep rifts' at enterprises: Execs are battling each other over poor ROI, IT teams are worn out, and workers are sabotaging AI strategiesNews Execs are battling each other over poor ROI, underperforming tools, and inter-departmental clashes
-
‘If you want to look like a flesh-bound chatbot, then by all means use an AI teleprompter’: Amazon banned candidates from using AI tools during interviews – here’s why you should never use them to secure a jobNews Amazon has banned the use of AI tools during the interview process – and it’s not the only major firm cracking down on the trend.
-
Starmer bets big on AI to unlock public sector savingsNews AI adoption could be a major boon for the UK and save taxpayers billions, according to prime minister Keir Starmer.
