Global AI spend set to double by 2023, says IDC - TechHQ

The next four years could see companies double their spend on artificial intelligence (AI) as real-world applications of the technology gather pace. Automated customer service agents, threat intelligence and prevention systems, and sales process recommendation and automation will dominate spend. That's based on a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC) that states that spend on AI solutions will reach US$97.7 billion in 2023, more than double that of the US$37.5 billion estimated in 2019. The figure would represent a compound annual growth rate of 28.4 percent over the period. David Schubmehl, the research director at IDC in charge of Cognitive/Artificial Intelligence systems said; "The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) is occurring in a wide range of solutions and applications from ERP and manufacturing software to content management, collaboration, and user productivity. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning are top of mind for most organizations today, and IDC expects that AI will be the disrupting influence changing entire industries over the next decade." Banking and retail sectors will lead the shift to AI. According to the report, each of these industries will invest more than US$5 billion in 2019. In the retail sector, nearly half of the spending on technology will go towards automated customer service agents, expert shopping advisors, and product recommendation systems. On the other hand, the banking industry is set to ramp up spend on automated threat intelligence and prevention system, as well as fraud analysis and investigation system. Significant investments would also be made in discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, healthcare, and professional services. The fastest industries to grow in terms of spending would be the media industry and governments with a five-year CAGR of 33.7 percent and 33.6 percent respectively. According to Marianne D'Aquila, Research Manager at IDC Customer Insight & Analysis, said: "Strategic decision-makers across all industries are now grappling with the question of how to effectively proceed with their AI journey.