Investment in artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise, yet a significant gap remains between investment and successful deployment. According to a recent survey by Riverbed, only one in ten AI projects is fully deployed, despite 78% of organizations reporting an increase in their AI spending over the past year. Many respondents express concern that their readiness for AI deployment is actually declining.
The "2025 State of AI Readiness for AIOps Report," conducted by Coleman Parkes Research, surveyed 1,200 technology professionals across several countries, including Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. The findings indicate that just 36% of organizations feel prepared to operationalize AI, down from 37% the previous year.
Dave Donatelli, CEO of Riverbed, highlighted the disconnect between investment and execution, calling it an "AI reality gap." He emphasized that companies must urgently bridge this gap to realize AI’s transformative potential.
Moreover, the survey revealed a stark contrast in perceptions of AI readiness between business leaders and technical specialists. While 42% of business leaders feel their organization is ready, only 25% of technical specialists share that view. Additionally, confidence in AI strategies concerning IT operations and digital experiences varies, with 64% of business leaders confident compared to just 48% of technical specialists.
Looking ahead, respondents are optimistic. By 2028, 86% expect their organizations to be prepared to support AI at scale, with better alignment between business and technical stakeholders.
Data quality also poses a challenge. Although 88% of respondents recognize high-quality data as critical to AI success, confidence in data readiness is low, with less than half rating it excellent in categories like relevance, consistency, security, and accuracy. Network performance is increasingly seen as essential, with 90% stating that data movement is critical to their AI strategy.
Many organizations plan to implement a dedicated AI data repository strategy by 2028, and a substantial 88% are adopting OpenTelemetry to enhance their AI readiness. Donatelli remarked that OpenTelemetry is becoming foundational to AI readiness, providing crucial visibility and data standardization for moving from experimental phases to full execution.
To overcome these challenges, organizations will need to improve their data strategies and align their business and technical goals more effectively.
