Here’s Why Your Company CIO is Struggling With AI

Too often, companies leave their chief information flailing on artificial intelligence programs.

There’s no doubt chief information officers are the proverbial “tip of the spear” on company AI implementations.

They usually pick the tools and applications that work best for the company, work with suppliers and third-party vendors to install the AI programs, and are responsible for training company employees on how to use the technology.

Just as assuredly, CIOs are on board with company AI investments. 94% of CIOs say they want to increase their company’s investment in AI, according to a new study from Canva, a San Francisco, Calif.-based video communications services company.

Yet trouble often lurks just under the surface with AI implementations, and CIOs know it. Consider the Canva study, which canvassed 1,369 CIOs already using AI tools at their firms.

Here are a few downside takeaways from CIOs on the Canva AI study.

• 84% say there are too many AI tools in the market.
• 72% are concerned about application sprawl, adding to their complexity and security risks.
• 64% say they don’t have enough IT staff to train employees.

Searching For a Foothold

All that angst leaves CIOs “overwhelmed,” Canva noted, and has them craving “simplicity and user-friendly tools more important than ever.”

“The need to consolidate is being driven by stretched IT teams who are facing a rapid increase in the number of apps to manage,” the report stated. “64% of CFOs say they don’t have enough staff to train employees on new apps, including safe and proper use.”

Another 44% say their teams “spend more than half of their time educating employees about new technologies, leaving less time for planning, innovation and other business-critical work.”

Additionally, CIOs are also having a tough time identifying the best AI tools for their companies.

While fighting what Canva calls “application sprawl”, CIOs want to gain the optimal benefits of AI in key business tasking areas like saving time on creative or strategic tasks, helping consolidate apps, and offering greater insights to guide business decisions. Yet they struggle to choose the right AI solution, with 84% of CIOs surveyed saying, “There are already too many AI tools available, causing confusion and overlap for employees.”

That’s not to say CIOs are thinking of giving up on complex AI rollouts or even considering complaining about it to the C-suite. What they could use, however, is some much-needed support as they lead company-wide digital transformation efforts.

“Navigating the avalanche of new technologies designed to make business easier is proving to be harder than ever. The balancing act CIOs face is unenviable: innovate with AI but don’t contribute to app sprawl,” said Cameron Adams, co-founder and chief product officer of Canva. “Our findings reinforce that CIOs want to be agents of change and innovation by choosing technology that helps their organizations have a greater impact while consolidating cost and reducing complexity.”

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