Patrick Milligan, the Chief Information Security Officer at Ford, emphasizes that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is a significant turning point for both businesses and society. This change is prompting many companies to expedite their AI deployment efforts due to its transformative potential. Currently, 98% of businesses report feeling a heightened urgency to adopt AI, with 85% expressing concern that they have less than 18 months to implement an AI strategy before facing negative repercussions.
Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, warns that companies adopting a “wait and see” approach risk becoming obsolete. He notes that while he doesn’t fear AI replacing his own job, he is concerned about competitors who effectively leverage AI, potentially making his role or company irrelevant.
Despite the pressing need to adopt AI, only 13% of companies globally indicate readiness to utilize AI to its fullest potential. A significant challenge lies in IT infrastructure, with 68% of organizations stating their systems are at best moderately prepared to scale AI technologies.
Effective AI implementation requires several core capabilities, including sufficient computational power for complex AI applications, optimized network performance, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to thwart sophisticated threats. Continuous monitoring, or observability, is crucial for ensuring the performance of AI systems remains reliable and optimized. Additionally, the quality and management of enterprise-wide data are key, as AI’s effectiveness is directly tied to the data it utilizes. A supportive company culture focused on AI and talent development is also essential for successful integration.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/09/03/1122367/building-the-ai-enabled-enterprise-of-the-future/