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Barriers to AI Adoption: Insights from a Survey of IT Leaders

In a recent report by OpenText and Ponemon Institute, insights from 1,900 IT leaders were unveiled concerning the barriers faced in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The survey shows that while many IT leaders recognize the transformative potential of AI, significant gaps in information management jeopardize the security, governance, and integration of AI initiatives across organizations.

The Current Landscape of AI Adoption

According to the findings, nearly 73% of respondents believe that simplifying the complexity of information is key to successful AI integration. Shannon Bell, the Chief Digital Officer at OpenText, reiterated the importance of this finding, remarking, "AI is mission-critical; however, the majority of organizations are not ready to support it. Without reliable and well-managed information, AI cannot meet expectations." This points to a larger issue within the information management space, where organizations struggle to align their data governance strategies effectively with their AI objectives.

The Role of Information Complexity

The survey revealed that complexity in managing information is a leading barrier to preparing organizations for AI. Approximately 44% of respondents indicated that unstructured data was the chief contributor to this complexity. In fact, when asked about the importance of reducing this complexity for building strong security frameworks, 73% of the respondents rated it as critical, very important, or essential.

Data Governance as a Defense Mechanism

To combat security risks associated with AI, 46% of the respondents reported developing and executing data security programs. Despite the positive outlook on AI’s potential to return investment (ROI), only 43% expressed confidence in their ability to measure ROI concerning the protection and management of their information assets. This lack of confidence indicates a broader challenge within organizations when integrating AI responsibly.

The AI Paradox

Interestingly, while 57% of business leaders prioritize AI implementation, only 54% feel confident in demonstrating the ROI from AI adoption. However, a whopping 53% cited the mitigation of AI’s security and legal risks as "very difficult" or "extremely difficult." Moreover, while half of the respondents indicated plans to hire a Chief AI Officer or Chief Digital Officer to lead their AI strategy, less than 47% confirmed alignment between IT/security objectives and the targets of their AI strategies.

The Pace of Generative AI Adoption

As generative AI technologies gain traction, about 32% of respondents reported that they have already implemented generative AI solutions, with an additional 26% planning to do so within the next six months. The main use cases for generative AI include enhancing security operations (39%), improving employee productivity (36%), and software development (34%). Despite this, only 19% of organizations have adopted agent-driven AI, signaling a significant gap in readiness and urgency.

Strengthening Preparedness for AI Integration

The survey also identified best practices for organizations looking to prepare for successful AI implementation:
1. Preventing Data Leakage: Businesses need to understand where sensitive data is stored, who can access it, and how it is utilized. Robust access controls, clear data classification policies, and anomaly detection tools are vital to reducing leak risks.
2. Implementing Responsible AI Practices: Comprehensive approaches should encompass data cleansing and governance, validation of AI inputs and outputs, employee training, and regular checks for model bias to ensure ethical use of AI.
3. Enhancing Encryption Measures: Persistence in encryption of data—during storage, transfer, and AI processing—must be enforced to protect sensitive information throughout the AI lifecycle.

The report also outlines other challenges such as internal risks, proving ROI on AI and IT investments, and addressing security complexities.

Survey Methodology

Conducted in May 2025 by Ponemon Institute, this survey included 1,896 senior IT and security leaders from various industries including financial services, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing across North America, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, and India.

In conclusion, as OpenText aids in simplifying complexity and establishing robust data governance, it underscores the importance of these strategies in addressing the existing gaps faced by IT leaders in AI readiness. For more details, refer to the full report available here.