Only 12% Firms Using AI at a Level That Gives Competitive Edge

The majority of organizations using artificial intelligence (AI) are still experimenting with this technology, but Accenture's new global survey shows that only 12% are using it at the maturity level, which is powerful. 

The research report, The Art of AI Maturity: Advance from Practice to Performance, reveals strategies for AI success through an overall framework that includes a new index that represents an organization's AI maturity on a scale of 0-100.

The study ranks median AI maturity for organizations with a medium score of 36, demonstrating that most organizations have significant opportunities to create greater value with AI. The survey highlights a small group (12%) of companies that are already using AI to outperform their competitors.

Later, the machine learning model used in the study suggests that the percentage of AI performers will increase rapidly from the current 12% to 27% by 2024. Over the same period, overall AI maturity will increase from today's 36 to 50.

Technology companies already have 54 high AI maturity levels, a modest increase to 60 by 2024, but are still at the top of AI maturity across the industry. In contrast, automakers and suppliers will rise from just 39 to 57 in two years, betting on a significant increase in sales of AI-powered self-driving cars.