IBM Canada's study reveals a 3% rise in AI adoption to 37% in Canada. Challenges include skill gaps hindering investment acceleration. (IT World Canada)
AI adoption among large organizations has maintained a steady global trajectory, with a notable uptick in Canada from 34% in April 2023 to 37% in November 2023, as per a recent study by IBM Canada. The survey encompassed insights from over 2,000 IT professionals in organizations boasting over 1,000 employees across countries like Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, and India.
In Canada, the vanguard is led by early adopters, with 35% of enterprises already engaged in AI implementation, aiming to accelerate and amplify investments in the technology. Additionally, 48% of Canadian companies are in the exploratory phase of integrating AI.
The driving forces behind this surge in AI adoption include the enhanced accessibility of AI tools (46%), the imperative to curtail costs and automate critical processes (46%), and the growing infusion of AI into standard off-the-shelf business applications (34%).
However, despite the increasing embrace of AI, the study underscores a reluctance to accelerate investments due to the persistent challenge of sourcing the right talent. Limited AI skills and expertise (41%) emerge as the foremost barrier hindering successful AI adoption among enterprises, whether in the exploration or deployment phase.
A noteworthy revelation is that 21% of organizations lack employees possessing the requisite skills for utilizing new AI or automation tools, and 17% face difficulty in recruiting individuals equipped with these skills. Moreover, a mere 25% are actively engaged in training or reskilling their workforce to adeptly operate new automation and AI tools.
Deb Pimentel, General Manager of Technology at IBM Canada, highlights the critical role of technology in driving industry transformation. However, she flags a widening gap between the skills required for digital transformation and the available workforce with these skills, posing a risk to the efficacy of this transformative engine. Challenges identified include a lack of customization, a one-size-fits-all approach to training, and limited real-world application opportunities.
Jeremy Shaki, CEO of Canadian tech education company Lighthouse Labs, emphasizes the complexity of upskilling when companies lack clarity on optimal AI use cases or when executives themselves are not AI users. Shaki contends that the rapidly evolving nature of AI tools and use cases compounds the challenge, making it difficult for companies to navigate upskilling in the AI space.
Contrary to the prevailing notion that AI will lead to workforce reduction, Shaki advocates for upskilling in AI for its value and growth potential. He believes that as AI brings better insights, predictions, and certainty, businesses can grow aggressively, focusing on opportunities rather than layoffs.
Pimentel concurs, noting that AI will create new roles, transform existing ones, and phase out some, presenting a challenge for organizations to communicate these changes effectively. She suggests that organizations should focus on providing relevant skills for AI work, moving freed-up employees into more fulfilling and impactful roles.
Shaki recommends that companies collaborate with educational spaces to identify valuable use cases and develop customized training programs to drive immediate adoption. Pimentel underscores that Canada, equipped with talent, researchers, academic institutions, investments, and government commitment, needs a thoughtful plan for the strategic and trusted adoption of AI.
To this end, Pimentel offers guidance for Canadian business leaders, emphasizing the need for a clear AI strategy, reimagining work processes by automating mundane tasks, and ensuring technology aligns with trustworthy and responsible AI principles, incorporating ethical considerations from the outset.
