IT trends show customers need computing power to take advantage of AI 

This is part of a larger series on the new infrastructure of the era of AI, highlighting emerging technology and trends in large-scale compute. This month, we’re sharing the Tech Pulse: March 2024 to help businesses harness the power of AI now. 

IT professionals today are focused on generative AI and its potential benefits, but one of the biggest challenges they face is securing the necessary computing power. In a recent study, Microsoft surveyed more than 2,000 IT professionals across 10 countries on their tech readiness for and adoption of AI. The report highlights their concerns and challenges along the way and is now available to help inform your business’s AI strategy. Stay ahead of the game with the latest insights from Microsoft.

Leading the charge in AI adoption and use  

IT professionals are at the forefront of AI adoption and use, with 79% of professionals using it multiple times a week. They are positive AI will have a positive impact on their company and role, make their jobs easier, and enable them to be strategic. The positivity crosses both the professional and personal spheres.  

AI in the professional sphere  

68% of IT professionals surveyed have already implemented AI in their work, a testament to the field’s eagerness to embrace this cutting-edge technology. This widespread adoption is not just a trend; it reflects the strategic importance placed on AI as a tool for enhancing productivity, driving innovation, and maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly changing digital economy. 

AI in personal lives  

The influence of AI extends beyond the confines of the workplace, with 66% of those surveyed incorporating AI into their daily routines. This integration of AI into personal life underscores the technology’s versatility and its capacity to improve efficiency and decision-making in various aspects of life. It shows that people are not being pulled along in the newest IT trend—they are ready and excited to find additional uses outside of work to enhance their own productivity. 

Rethinking their tech stack requirements  

The emergence of AI is already changing many aspects of cloud computing. Even companies that started in the cloud have questions to consider when it comes to their future cloud strategy. While IT professionals remain positive about the cloud amid the changing landscape of AI, they increasingly cite the need for changes to the infrastructure they support. 72% of respondents agreed that AI will fundamentally change their tech stacks.

With AI integration and a changing tech stack, proactively addressing uncertainties and changes that impact cloud computing is crucial. This includes adapting to new security paradigms, managing evolving skill requirements for AI-driven tasks, and optimizing cloud resources amid dynamic shifts in workload patterns. Additionally, IT professionals will need to ensure compliance with emerging regulations to effectively navigate the evolving landscape of AI-optimized cloud services.

Building AI confidence

As the IT landscape rapidly evolves with the integration of AI, professionals in the field are facing a mix of emotions and questions about the future. There’s a general optimism about the potential of AI to enhance productivity and innovation, yet IT experts are also mindful of skilling requirements and the pace of technological advancement. 

IT professionals are confident in their skills and the positive changes AI can bring to their roles and organizations. A significant 78% of IT pros surveyed have AI deployed or in pilot stages within their companies, indicating a strong move towards embracing AI technologies. However, this rapid adoption comes with its own set of challenges and questions around the pace of AI evolution, costs, and governance.

As organizations continue to invest in AI, it’s now more important than ever to focus on these concerns and drive the appropriate opportunities and messaging internally. Skilling will continue to be front of mind as IT Pros grapple with the rapid changes and investments that are happening in the space. The good news is there are a lot of tools and resources to help as people start to ramp up their AI skilling.  Great places to find training are online through providers and partners, hands-on labs, and events like Microsoft Build (developers), Microsoft Ignite (all audiences), and NVIDIA GTC (developers).

Looking for AI model accuracy, increased privacy and security

IT professionals are prioritizing AI model accuracy, privacy, and security when selecting a technology partner. AI model accuracy ranks highest, followed by a commitment to privacy and security, and a strong reputation as a technology leader. 

Accuracy remains the key to success

The march towards AI integration in IT is marked by a meticulous search for precision and a shield of privacy and security. Alliances with the right partners can guarantee the highest degree of AI model accuracy while accelerating usage of AI. Precision is paramount, as it forms the foundation upon which reliable and effective AI solutions are built. As IT professionals continue to grapple with skilling up in an accelerated timeframe, utilizing partners help relieve some of the gaps and accelerate the timeline for organizations wanting to integrate AI as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. 

A commitment to privacy and security  

Beyond accuracy, IT professionals demand a steadfast commitment to privacy and security. In an era where data breaches are all too common, a technology partner’s ability to protect sensitive information is a critical criterion. IT professionals understand that robust security measures are not just a feature but a necessity, ensuring that AI solutions enhance rather than endanger their operations. 

Learn more about the future of AI

Many organizations will need to make significant tech and infrastructure changes to fully leverage AI’s benefits. You can read more about our findings in the Tech Pulse: March 2024 report. To better help your teams be AI-ready, consider attending one of our events this year or reading our State of AI Infrastructure report. Whether you’re a CEO, working hand-in-hand with the infrastructure, a developer, or end user, you can see firsthand how to design infrastructure that has the necessary computing power to support all your workloads and AI solutions.

More from the series:

• Tech Pulse: What the rise of AI means for IT Professionals
• New infrastructure for the era of AI: Emerging technology and trends in 2024
• A year in review for AI Infrastructure

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