AWS has released findings from its Gen AI Adoption Index research, which surveyed 3,739 senior IT decision-makers across nine countries. The study encompassed industries such as financial services, information and communications technology, manufacturing, and retail. Surveyed regions included the US, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
The research highlighted several key insights:
Organizations are creating dedicated AI leadership positions to drive transformation across their structures. As AI initiatives expand within organizations, leadership roles are evolving to meet new demands. "While Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and Chief Innovation Officers (CIOs) currently lead most IT transformation initiatives," AWS reports that "60% of organizations globally have appointed a dedicated AI executive" to manage these complexities.
There is a rethinking of generative AI talent strategies as companies work to fulfill growing demands for AI expertise. A dual strategy involving both internal workforce development and external recruitment is being adopted globally. According to the study, "organizations are planning significant hiring initiatives," with 92% intending to recruit for roles requiring generative AI skills in 2025.
A blended approach is being used by organizations to drive business transformation through generative AI. Companies are increasingly integrating proprietary data with customization capabilities for efficiency and scalability while ensuring data security. The research indicates that "while 40% of organizations plan to use AI models off-the-shelf directly," many prefer a hybrid approach: "58% planning to develop custom applications using pre-existing models," and "55% will build applications on fine-tuned models using proprietary data."
Further details can be found in the full global report and accompanying infographics.