IFS has published the results of its “Global AI Optimism League Table”, where it reveals that the degree of optimism towards artificial intelligence (AI) is closely linked to its degree of integration in companies. Interestingly, organizations with revenues between $200 million and $500 million are the most enthusiastic about it. Furthermore, countries like the United Kingdom and the United States obtain a lower level of optimism.

“It might seem logical to assume that greater access to financial resources drives optimism towards AI, but our findings show the opposite,” says Gonzalo Valle, pre-sales manager at IFS.

In contrast, companies exceeding $500 million in revenue rank only third in terms of optimism, due to an internal divide around strategy, data readiness, and team skills. Only 25% of these companies expect to see tangible benefits from AI in the next year, while the rest foresee results within at least three years.

As expected, medium-sized companies ($50-200 million) show less optimism, mainly due to the lack of available resources.

Christian Pedersen, Principal Product Director at IFS, warns that “we could be approaching widespread disenchantment, especially after the huge boom that AI has had in the last 18 months. But leaders must understand that AI is not just a tool, but a comprehensive strategy.”

Optimism in AI

The research also identifies that companies with more advanced technological infrastructures, particularly in the cloud, tend to show greater optimism about the future benefits of AI. This optimism is linked to the belief that tangible benefits will manifest in a relatively short term.

Pedersen notes that “pressure to adopt AI is increasing in boardrooms, driven in part by reports such as McKinsey, which suggests that AI could add up to $4.4 trillion in annual benefits. However, without a clear strategy, these programs risk becoming stagnant.”

Managers expect AI to have a significant impact in areas such as product and service innovation (31%), data accessibility (30%) and cost reduction (29%). In addition, the study highlights the relationship between AI and sustainability initiatives. Countries with less developed sustainability strategies tend to show less enthusiasm towards AI adoption.

Pedersen concludes: “Many have high expectations of AI, but often misunderstand its true value. Industrial AI, where data flows comprehensively across all areas of the company, is what truly transforms business. “For companies that do not have a clear strategy in this regard, having the right partner is crucial to moving forward on this journey.”