A majority of senior executives across multiple industries expect artificial intelligence to fundamentally reshape their businesses in the next 12 to 24 months, according to KPMG’s latest AI Quarterly Pulse Survey. The report found that 56% of leaders anticipate significant transformation within the next year alone, jumping to 67% within two years—underscoring the swift pace at which AI is evolving from a strategic discussion into an operational transformation imperative.
According to the survey, 68% of executives plan to invest between $50 million and $250 million into Generative AI over the next 12 months, marking a substantial increase from 45% in Q1 of 2024. Business leaders seem to be moving from pilot programs to major budget allocations, with half of them already scaling their GenAI initiatives, up from just 10% half a year ago. This surge in investment signals a recognition amongst business leaders that AI is no longer a niche, technical concept but a near-term requirement for staying competitive.
For example, Deloitte’s “State of AI in the Enterprise” survey also underscores how C-level enthusiasm has led to notable AI budgets, even amid economic uncertainties.
Similarly, a recent survey of executives from the Boston Consulting Group and insights from researchers at Stanford’s Human-Centered AI have both produced results highlighting the increased acceleration and investment in AI-powered business transformation. These studies and surveys highlight the growing expectation that AI will soon become indispensable across multiple business functions.
Top Challenges: Data Quality and Economic Volatility
While organizations are bullish about AI’s potential, 88% cite macroeconomic pressures as a key factor influencing their AI strategies, both now and for the foreseeable future. Another significant hurdle is the integrity of organizational data itself, with 85% of respondents naming data quality as the biggest challenge on the horizon, followed by data privacy, cybersecurity, and employee adoption. This concern underscores how AI success hinges not only on sophisticated algorithms but also on high-quality, well-governed data.
More on KPMG AI Quarterly Pulse spending survey on Forbes
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