Discover the enterprise case for accountable AI in new IDC whitepaper

Learn the brand new whitepaper from IDC and Microsoft for steering on constructing reliable AI and the way companies profit from utilizing AI responsibly.

I’m happy to introduce Microsoft’s commissioned whitepaper with IDC: The Enterprise Case for Accountable AI. This whitepaper, based mostly on IDC’s Worldwide Accountable AI Survey sponsored by Microsoft, affords steering to enterprise and know-how leaders on systematically construct reliable AI. In immediately’s quickly evolving technological panorama, AI has emerged as a transformative pressure, reshaping industries and redefining the best way companies function. Generative AI utilization jumped from 55% in 2023 to 75% in 2024; the potential for AI to drive innovation and improve operational effectivity is simple.¹ Nonetheless, with nice energy comes nice duty. The deployment of AI applied sciences additionally brings with it important dangers and challenges that have to be addressed to make sure accountable use.

At Microsoft, we’re devoted to enabling each individual and group to make use of and construct AI that’s reliable, which suggests AI that’s non-public, protected, and safe. You may study extra about our commitments and capabilities in our announcement about reliable AI. Our method to protected AI, or accountable AI, is grounded in our core values, danger administration and compliance practices, superior instruments and applied sciences, and the dedication of people dedicated to deploying and utilizing generative AI responsibly.

We imagine {that a} accountable AI method fosters innovation by guaranteeing that AI applied sciences are developed and deployed in a fashion that’s honest, clear, and accountable. IDC’s Worldwide Accountable AI Survey discovered that 91% of organizations are at the moment utilizing AI know-how and anticipate greater than a 24% enchancment in buyer expertise, enterprise resilience, sustainability, and operational effectivity on account of AI in 2024. As well as, organizations that use accountable AI options reported advantages equivalent to improved information privateness, enhanced buyer expertise, assured enterprise choices, and strengthened model fame and belief. These options are constructed with instruments and methodologies to determine, assess, and mitigate potential dangers all through their improvement and deployment.

AI is a vital enabler of enterprise transformation, providing unprecedented alternatives for innovation and progress. Nonetheless, the accountable improvement and use of AI is crucial to mitigate dangers and construct belief with clients and stakeholders. By adopting a accountable AI method, organizations can align AI deployment with their values and societal expectations, leading to sustainable worth for each the group and its clients.

Key findings from the IDC survey

The IDC Worldwide Accountable AI Survey highlights the significance of operationalizing accountable AI practices:

• Greater than 30% of respondents famous that the shortage of governance and danger administration options is the highest barrier to adopting and scaling AI.
• Greater than 75% of respondents who use accountable AI options reported enhancements in information privateness, buyer expertise, assured enterprise choices, model fame, and belief.
• Organizations are more and more investing in AI and machine studying governance instruments {and professional} providers for accountable AI, with 35% of AI group spend in 2024 allotted to AI and machine studying governance instruments and 32% to skilled providers.

In response to those findings, IDC suggests {that a} accountable AI group is constructed on 4 foundational components: core values and governance, danger administration and compliance, applied sciences, and workforce.

1. Core values and governance: A accountable AI group defines and articulates its AI mission and ideas, supported by company management. Establishing a transparent governance construction throughout the group builds confidence and belief in AI applied sciences.
2. Danger administration and compliance: Strengthening compliance with acknowledged ideas and present legal guidelines and rules is crucial. Organizations should develop insurance policies to mitigate danger and operationalize these insurance policies by means of a danger administration framework with common reporting and monitoring.
3. Applied sciences: Using instruments and strategies to help ideas equivalent to equity, explainability, robustness, accountability, and privateness is essential. These ideas have to be constructed into AI methods and platforms.
4. Workforce: Empowering management to raise accountable AI as a vital enterprise crucial and offering all workers with coaching on accountable AI ideas is paramount. Coaching the broader workforce ensures accountable AI adoption throughout the group.

Recommendation and suggestions for enterprise and know-how leaders

To make sure the accountable use of AI applied sciences, organizations ought to contemplate taking a scientific method to AI governance. Based mostly on the analysis, listed below are some suggestions for enterprise and know-how leaders. It’s value noting that Microsoft has adopted these practices and is dedicated to working with clients on their accountable AI journey:

1. Set up AI ideas: Decide to growing know-how responsibly and set up particular utility areas that won’t be pursued. Keep away from creating or reinforcing unfair bias and construct and check for security. Find out how Microsoft builds and governs AI responsibly.
2. Implement AI governance: Set up an AI governance committee with various and inclusive illustration. Outline insurance policies for governing inside and exterior AI use, promote transparency and explainability, and conduct common AI audits. Learn the Microsoft Transparency Report.
3. Prioritize privateness and safety: Reinforce privateness and information safety measures in AI operations to safeguard in opposition to unauthorized information entry and guarantee person belief. Be taught extra about Microsoft’s work to implement generative AI throughout the group securely and responsibly.
4. Spend money on AI coaching: Allocate sources for normal coaching and workshops on accountable AI practices for the complete workforce, together with govt management. Go to Microsoft Be taught and discover programs on generative AI for enterprise leaders, builders, and machine studying professionals.
5. Keep abreast of world AI rules: Sustain-to-date with international AI rules, such because the EU AI Act, and guarantee compliance with rising necessities. Keep up-to-date with necessities at Microsoft Belief Middle.

As organizations proceed to combine AI into enterprise processes, you will need to keep in mind that accountable AI is a strategic benefit. By embedding accountable AI practices into the core of their operations, organizations can drive innovation, improve buyer belief, and help long-term sustainability. Organizations that prioritize accountable AI could also be higher positioned to navigate the complexities of the AI panorama and capitalize on the alternatives it presents to reinvent the client expertise or bend the curve on innovation.

At Microsoft, we’re dedicated to supporting our clients on their accountable AI journey. We provide a vary of instruments, sources, and finest practices to assist organizations implement accountable AI ideas successfully. As well as, we’re leveraging our associate ecosystem to supply clients with market and technical insights designed to allow deployment of accountable AI options on the Microsoft platform. By working collectively, we are able to create a future the place AI is used responsibly benefiting each companies and society as an entire.

As organizations navigate the complexities of AI adoption, you will need to make accountable AI an built-in apply throughout the group. By doing so, organizations can harness the total potential of AI whereas utilizing it in a fashion that’s honest and helpful for all.

Uncover options

¹IDC’s 2024 AI alternative examine: Prime 5 AI developments to look at, Alysa Taylor. November 14, 2024.

IDC White Paper: sponsored by Microsoft, 2024 The Enterprise Case for Accountable AI, IDC #US52727124, December 2024. The examine was commissioned and sponsored by Microsoft. This doc is offered solely for data and shouldn’t be construed as authorized recommendation.