Businesses Unprepared for Data Demands of AI, Study Reveals

Organisations are unprepared for the massive energy requirements and data demands of AI, a new study has revealed. 

The report, released by Pure Storage, details how 89% of IT buyers found ESG goals difficult to meet as a result of upgrades to their IT infrastructure for AI adoption. It also found that businesses will have to implement data management upgrades of some kind for AI. 

Drivers of Change: Meeting the Energy and Data Challenges of AI Adoption, was developed in partnership with Wakefield Research to identify the hurdles faced when adopting artificial intelligence into an enterprise. 

It details the importance of reassessing data infrastructure to truly reap the benefits of AI, keep energy costs in line, and stay on track with corporate environmental goals.

The survey, fielded among 500 IT buyers at companies of 500+ employers across the U.S. and Europe, found that:

●     The Need for Computing Power is Surging, Driven by AI Adoption: For 88% of those who have adopted AI, the need for computing power is up dramatically. Nearly half (47%) have had to double their computing power or more since adopting AI. 

●     Organisations Did Not Anticipate the Energy Demands of AI: 73% of IT buyers were not completely prepared for the energy requirements of AI. 

●     Energy Consumption is Just One AI Burden: For 73%, AI requires or will require data management upgrades of some kind. Among specific upgrades: data management tools (48%), data management processes (46%), and data storage infrastructure (46%).

●     As a Result, Nearly All (96%) Have Already or Plan to Update Their IT Infrastructure: 29% of IT Buyers say AI has or will require a complete overhaul. 

●     These Challenges Have Set Back Businesses’ Sustainability Goals: 89% have found ESG goals more difficult to meet as a result of upgrades to their IT infrastructure after AI adoption. However, 60% of those who have already adopted AI technologies (or plan to in the next 12 months) stated they invested in or will invest in more energy-efficient hardware to meet ESG goals.

“Planning for change and ensuring flexibility are key to navigating AI adoption. As power and data demands increase exponentially in the age of AI, investing in and deploying the right AI-ready data infrastructure is not only essential to effective deployment and energy efficiency, but to driving the most value out of AI projects.

Today’s report offers important insights for IT leaders on both the consequences of failing to plan for the changes required to implement AI, as well as the benefits of being prepared for AI’s impact on infrastructure.”

– Rob Lee, Chief Technology Officer, Pure Storage

You can read the full report here.