O’Reilly, the leading provider of technology and business training, today released the findings of its 2023 Generative AI in the Enterprise Report, revealing an unprecedented 67% adoption rate of generative AI among surveyed organizations. The report delves into how companies are utilizing this transformative technology, the barriers hindering wider adoption, and the skills required to harness its full potential.
“Generative AI is ushering in a new era of opportunity for businesses, offering the potential to drive growth, optimize operations, and deliver exceptional customer experiences,” stated Mary Treseler, Chief Content Officer at O’Reilly. “However, without the proper talent and infrastructure in place, this rapidly evolving technology can quickly outpace enterprise resources.”
Unprecedented Adoption Fueling AI Revolution
Generative AI is witnessing the fastest adoption rate of any technology in recent history. Two-thirds (67%) of survey respondents indicated that their companies are currently using generative AI, with over a third (38%) of this group adopting the technology within the past year. These findings challenge Gartner’s assertion that AI may be nearing the peak of its hype cycle, suggesting that generative AI holds immense untapped potential.
Advancements in generative AI technology, coupled with the availability of open-source models and a surge in tooling development, are driving the rapid adoption. Open-source models, utilized by 16% of respondents, are considerably less resource-intensive to operate. Additionally, the emergence of tools that automate complex prompts, facilitate prompt archiving and indexing for reuse, and enable vector database-powered document retrieval is bringing generative AI within reach for a broader range of organizations.
Barriers and Risks: Addressing the Challenges
Despite the widespread adoption of generative AI, many companies are still in the early stages of implementation. While 18% of respondents have applications in production, identifying appropriate use cases (53%) and addressing legal, risk, and compliance concerns (38%) remain significant bottlenecks.
The accelerated integration of generative AI has also created a demand for skilled technology workers to drive progress. AI programming (66%), data analysis (59%), and operations for AI/ML (54%) are the most sought-after skills. General AI literacy (52%) is also critical, as users must be equipped to recognize and address the potential biases and hallucinations that generative AI tools can sometimes exhibit.
Generative AI in Action: Unlocking Productivity and Innovation
O’Reilly’s report revealed that 54% of AI users believe generative AI tools will enhance overall productivity, with only 4% anticipating job reductions. Programming (77%), data analysis (70%), and customer-facing applications (65%) are the most prevalent use cases for generative AI in the enterprise, while marketing (47%) and other forms of copy generation (56%) are also gaining traction.
Key Findings:
- 34% of respondents are in the proof-of-concept stage with generative AI, demonstrating the early stages of adoption across organizations.
- Among respondents, 64% have transitioned from using prepackaged generative AI to developing custom applications, indicating a significant move towards more advanced implementations.
- While 23% of respondents utilize GPT models, 16% are building on open-source models, highlighting a thriving ecosystem beyond GPT.
- LLaMA and Llama 2 (2.4%) and Google Bard (1%) were the least used models.
Navigating the AI Landscape: A Call for Pragmatic Approach
“The rapid adoption of generative AI is undeniable, but if we overlook the risks and hazards associated with hasty implementation, we risk repeating the mistakes of previous AI winters,” warned Mike Loukides, Vice President of Content Strategy at O’Reilly and author of the report. “By adopting a pragmatic approach, investing in training and resources, and creatively exploring the potential of AI, enterprises can seize the immense opportunities that lie ahead. As the report concludes, ‘AI won’t replace humans, but companies that embrace AI will replace those that don’t.’”
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