A recent study by IBM’s Institute for Business Value highlights the need for renewed technological leadership in the era of Generative AI. 72% of CEOs consider this technology to be key to competitive advantage. However, 43% of technology leaders globally, and 45% in Spain, have expressed growing concern about their infrastructure, now focusing on improving it to adapt to it.
The study also highlights that two-thirds of CEOs believe that collaboration between technology and finance leaders is essential for business success. However, only 39% of CTOs globally, and 43% in Spain, work closely with the financial area to integrate technology metrics into business plans.
On the financial side, only 35% of global CTOs, and 43% in Spain, are involved from the beginning in IT strategic planning. Among the best-performing CTOs, organizations that link technology to specific business objectives report 12% higher revenue growth.
“In an environment where generative AI is transforming business operations, technology leaders must not only modernize their infrastructures, but also ensure that investments in AI are aligned with strategic objectives. In this scenario, collaboration between technology and financial directors is essential to achieve a greater impact on growth and competitiveness,” says Ana Gobernado, Managing Partner of IBM Consulting Spain, Portugal, Greece and Israel.
Responsible AI is a priority for CTOs, but there is a gap between intent and action
- For the majority (80%) of CEOs surveyed, transparency in their organization’s use of next-generation technologies, such as generative AI, is critical to fostering trust.
Yet most CTOs acknowledge that their organizations are lagging behind in implementing basic responsible AI practices at scale:
- Only half (50%) of respondents say they are meeting the key capabilities of responsible AI for explainability, in Spain the figure is 53%. Even fewer say they are meeting the capabilities of privacy (46%), 52% in Spain, transparency (45%), 44% in Spain and equity (37%), 25% in Spain.
- 41% of CTOs surveyed globally reported increased concerns about regulation and compliance as a barrier to generative AI over the past six months, a figure that drops to 35% in Spain.
- However, the majority (70% globally and 65% in Spain) of the technology CxOs surveyed see regulatory change as an opportunity, compared to only 50% of CEOs.
Technology CxOs are pushing their organizations to rethink their talent strategy to meet the needs of the generative AI era
- 63% of CTOs surveyed agree that their competitiveness will depend on their ability to attract, develop and retain top talent.
- However, 58% of CTOs surveyed say they have difficulty filling key technology positions, 57% in the case of Spain, and only 27% of respondents identify talent as one of their main priorities.
- Over the next 3 years, technology executives expect an increase in skills shortages in key areas such as cloud (+36% globally, 16% in Spain), AI (+29%, 24% in our country), security (+25% globally and 28% in Spain) and privacy (+39% globally and 37% in Spain).
- 40% of respondents report an increase in their concern over the past six months, a figure that drops to 36% in Spain.
- More than half (54% globally, 52% in Spain) of surveyed technology CxOs blame financial pressures for hindering their ability to invest in technology talent.
- Many technology CxOs surveyed (69% globally and 60% in Spain) say they are turning to business partners as a source of specialized skills.
