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CIO Playbook 2025 It’s Time for AI-nomics
AI is set to reach mainstream adoption this year
As AI budgets grow, the focus will be on hybrid deployments, enhancing data management capabilities, bolstering tech infrastructure, and developing strategic tech partnerships. However, organizations must overcome significant hurdles, including proving ROI, managing financial, governance, ethical risks, ensuring data quality, and addressing skills gaps, to fully harness AI’s potential.
Most businesses in the early stages of their full AI deployments
- 5% AI is adopted enterprise-wide
- 46% AI projects are in the early / pilot stages
- 49% Evaluating / Planning to adopt soon
Source: IDC CIO Playbook 2025 Survey, commissioned by Lenovo, n=2,920
AI adoption in 2025
In 2025, AI budgets are expected to nearly triple compared to the previous year, comprising nearly 20% of total IT budgets.
2024 2.8x 2025
Data science, along with IT services and infrastructure, will be the top AI areas of investment over the next 12 months.
Top Areas for AI Investments
Next 12 Months
Data science & business intelligence: 28.7%
IT consulting & services for AI projects: 27.2%
Data center & edge AI infrastructure: 27.0%
42% of organizations are expected to focus on implementing GenAI use cases, a significant increase from 11% in 2024.
11% GenAI implementation in the past 12 months
42% GenAI implementation in next 12 months
Overcoming the ROI challenge will be key in 2025, as financial risks and uncertain ROI remain the top barriers to adoption globally
Top Challenges Preventing AI Adoption Amongst Non-Adopters
33.3% Concerned about financial risks and uncertain AI ROI
33% Our data is insufficient or disorganized for AI
32.5% Lacking in-house AI expertise
AI trends for 2025
63% of organizations globally prefer using on-premises and/or hybrid infrastructure/ deployments for AI workloads.
42% of organizations believe AI-powered devices enhance employee productivity and experience, with a significant majority either already piloting or planning adoption.
48% of organizations plan to use AI professional services to bridge internal skills gaps through strategic partnerships.
Data sovereignty, compliance and data quality are top success factors for AI implementations.
33% of organizations highlighted that they will be developing data management capabilities in the next 12 months.
Message from the Sponsor
Lenovo
Everything you need to succeed with AI
Bring AI to your data with a hybrid approach across personal, enterprise, and public domains.
Produced by: IDC Custom Solutions
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