Deloitte: 42% of executives believe AI will be of 'critical importance' within 2 years

Companies are ramping up investments in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. That's the biggest takeaway from Deloitte's second "State of the AI in the Enterprise" report, a survey of more than 1,100 IT workers and executives from U.S.-based companies that was conducted in the third quarter of 2018. "Companies are excited about the potential of AI to improve performance and competitiveness -- and for good reason," said Dr. Jeff Loucks, executive director at Deloitte's Center for Technology, Media, and Telecommunications. "But to reach this potential, companies must engage risk, address talent shortfalls, and execute well. While AI's upside is significant, haste can leave companies with bridges to nowhere -- pilots that don't scale or projects with no business benefit."