Many companies are stumbling as they rush to adopt artificial intelligence -- here's what's tripping them up

If there's one big thing that might thwart companies' headlong rush to adopt artificial intelligence for their businesses, it's data. AI generally requires lots of data. But it needs to be the right kind of data, in very particular kinds of formats. And it often needs it to be "clean," including only the kind of information it needs and none of what it doesn't. "The biggest challenge most organizations face when they start thinking about AI is their data," said Paul Daugherty, the chief technology and innovation officer of consulting firm Accenture, in an interview earlier this month.