Top Five Priorities for UK CIOs to Capitalise on Generative AI in 2024 Published in Report by Info-Tech Research Group - Seite 2

'Generative AI is one of the few technologies that almost all of our CIOs are being asked about by the Board or CEO,' says Michelle van Wijk, an Executive Counselor at Info-Tech Research Group. 'In order to be successful, CIOs have to identify opportunities and risks, build platforms to take advantage of the technology, manage the increasing number of core systems that incorporate AI, as well as inform and educate their CEO and Board.'

Published in February 2024, the report is informed by extensive research, including Info-Tech's Future of IT survey and in-depth interviews with CIOs from a diverse range of industries and geographical locations. This comprehensive approach ensured a broad level of insights, capturing the experiences of leaders from large organisations with over 2,500 employees to smaller entities and spanning IT budgets from under $1 million to over $100 million.

The industries represented in the study were equally varied, encompassing Media, Technology, Construction, Transportation, Government, Manufacturing, Gaming & Hospitality, Financial Services, and Not-for-Profit sectors. The international perspective of the respondents, from regions including the US, Canada, the Middle East, Great Britain, India, Central America, and South America, added a global dimension to the research.

To delve deeper into the different levels of IT department maturity and its impact on organisational priorities, Info-Tech segmented the survey respondents into two groups based on their IT maturity levels: high maturity and low maturity. High-maturity respondents, totalling 154, identified their IT departments as either "expanding" or "transforming the business," indicating a strategic role of IT in driving business growth and innovation. In contrast, the 530 low-maturity respondents described their IT departments as at the "struggling," "supporting," or "optimising the business" stages, highlighting a more foundational or operational focus.

The segmented approach allowed for a nuanced analysis of how IT maturity influences priority setting and strategic planning, revealing insights about how more mature organisations are pursuing opportunities and mitigating risks as AI cascades through the industry. By examining the priorities and planning decisions of high-maturity IT departments, Info-Tech's report aims to offer CIOs and IT leaders a valuable starting point for developing their list of priorities for 2024 and tailoring them to their organisation's unique context and goals. The following priorities are what the firm recommends be top of mind for CIOs and IT leaders over the coming months: