Artificial intelligence (AI) has transitioned from a futuristic vision to a pivotal component in business transformation for organizations worldwide. It facilitates improved decision-making, efficiency, and a competitive edge. Yet, many enterprises grapple with the challenges of effectively scaling AI technologies within their operations.
Insights from the Dell Technologies Enterprise AI Adoption Survey
A survey conducted by Dell Technologies, which included responses from 3,800 IT decision-makers and AI practitioners across five countries, reveals valuable insights into how businesses are integrating AI and the obstacles they face. Here are five key findings from this research.
Strategic Data Management is Essential
The performance of AI systems hinges on the quality of the data they utilize. Businesses report significant challenges in managing their data, with critical issues surrounding data quality, availability, management, and security hindering effective AI implementation. Organizations need to prioritize strategies that ensure seamless data integration, enhanced security, and scalable solutions for handling vast datasets.
Multicloud Strategies for AI Workloads
Flexibility in AI workload placements is becoming increasingly significant. Research suggests that a multicloud approach is favored among enterprises for managing AI workloads. Specifically, 79% of operational AI use cases occur outside the public cloud, while 98% of organizations have assessed the total cost of ownership for these workloads in public cloud environments. Although public cloud services are tempting for experimentation, many businesses are realizing that on-premises solutions can be as much as 75% more cost-effective overall, especially for long-term investments.
Maximizing Data Center Efficiency
Despite concerns about power and cooling constraints in data centers, many enterprises overlook the potential of untapped power resources. The survey found that 39% of data center power remains unused. By focusing on optimizing existing data center power capacity rather than investing in extensive upgrades, organizations can better support their AI initiatives. Moreover, advances like direct-to-chip liquid cooling promise to alleviate power requirements, enabling scalable AI deployments while reducing cooling costs.
Preference for Open-Source Models
Organizations are increasingly favoring open-source solutions to enhance transparency and flexibility in their AI ecosystems. The survey shows that 63% of AI use cases are expected to incorporate open-source models in the coming year, with 77% of organizations seeking comprehensive support from infrastructure vendors throughout the AI adoption process. This trend indicates a desire for customizable and cost-effective solutions that extend beyond what single vendors offer.
On-Device AI Processing with Small Language Models
The adoption of AI Personal Computers (PCs) for leveraging small language models (SLMs) is gaining momentum. About 35% of organizations plan to experiment with SLMs on AI PCs within the next year. SLMs are advantageous as they consume less computational power, making real-time, on-device AI processing feasible. This efficiency not only reduces latency but also enhances productivity and minimizes environmental impact, democratizing access to AI technology across organizations.
In summary, the key drivers for successful AI adoption in enterprises include:
- Assessing total cost of ownership to optimize the deployment mix across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments.
- Enhancing data quality, access, and management practices.
- Utilizing available power effectively within existing data centers.
- Adopting open-source models to foster innovation and collaboration.
- Implementing SLMs on AI PCs for improved efficiency and accessibility.
In today’s competitive landscape, the integration of AI is indispensable for achieving operational excellence. The choices organizations make regarding their AI strategies now will significantly impact their success in the future.
For more information on how to develop a successful AI strategy tailored to your business, reach out to Dell Technologies for insights into their AI solutions.