• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechAI

Exclusive: Why an Artificial Intelligence Wave Could Hit the Business World in 2020

By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 19, 2019, 9:08 AM ET
In a new survey, nearly 80% of U.S. CIOs said they planned to increase their use of AI and machine learning over the next 12 months. Photograph by John Lund/Getty Images
In a new survey, nearly 80% of U.S. CIOs said they planned to increase their use of AI and machine learning over the next 12 months. Photograph by John Lund/Getty ImagesJohn Lund—Getty Images

The promise of artificial intelligence—that it can turn masses of fuzzy data into money-making moves—is becoming less sci-fi and more business as usual.

Nearly 80% of chief information officers at U.S. companies plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning over the next 12 months, according to Adobe’s 2019 CIO Perspectives Survey. Fortune was provided an early look at the San Jose-based software company’s survey results.

Among the more than 200 CIOs that participated in Adobe’s October survey, none said they’re planning to scale back the use of A.I. or machine learning. That apparent confidence speaks to the success of recent AI breakthroughs.

“As a whole there are massive opportunities to adopt new [A.I.] technologies,” said Ronell Hugh, the product marketing lead for Adobe Experience Platform. “Cloud infrastructure was a first step, now there is a lot of innovation in AI and how to use data in real-time for your business.” 

The majority of CIOs also say AI has the greatest potential of all rising technologies. Yet room for growth here is massive: Almost 70% of CIOs say that AI or machine learning are used on only 1% to 20% of their companies’ tech projects.

And 73% of CTOs plan to increase the use of real-time data over the next 12 months. Only 15% of of these technology leaders strongly agree that their companies are real-time-data-focused organizations.

Among the leaders in using real-time data is the hospitality industry. Some hotel chains have algorithms that monitor customer feedback and make suggestions in real-time to hotel staff, Hugh says. If a hotel guest has complained in the past about towels, the algorithm might suggest staff double-check towels.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Why Trump is bad for business
—Can Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon get the bank to grow again?
—Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is a radical gamble on an electric future
—How “VSCO Girls” are killing makeup sales
—Give these world-class experiences as gifts this holiday season
Subscribe to Fortune’s
Eye on A.I. newsletter, where artificial intelligence meets industry.

About the Author
By Lance Lambert
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Elon Musk
Big TechSpaceX
SpaceX to offer insider shares at record-setting $800 billion valuation
By Edward Ludlow, Loren Grush, Lizette Chapman, Eric Johnson and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
6 hours ago
Big TechApple
Apple rocked by executive departures, with chip chief at risk of leaving next
By Mark Gurman and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
9 hours ago
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said China is better equipped for an AI data center buildout than the U.S.
AITech
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China ‘they can build a hospital in a weekend’
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
11 hours ago
Arts & EntertainmentMedia
Former Amazon Studios boss warns the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal will make Hollywood ‘a system that circles a single sun’
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
12 hours ago
Jay Clayton
LawCrime
25-year DEA veteran charged with helping Mexican drug cartel launder millions of dollars, secure guns and bombs
By Dave Collins, Michael R. Sisak and The Associated PressDecember 6, 2025
13 hours ago
Elon Musk
LawSocial Media
Elon Musk’s X fined $140 million by EU for breaching digital regulations
By Kelvin Chan and The Associated PressDecember 6, 2025
13 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook for the metaverse. Four years and $70 billion in losses later, he’s moving on
By Eva RoytburgDecember 5, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
11 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant 'state of anxiety' out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Two months into the new fiscal year and the U.S. government is already spending more than $10 billion a week servicing national debt
By Eleanor PringleDecember 4, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
‘Godfather of AI’ says Bill Gates and Elon Musk are right about the future of work—but he predicts mass unemployment is on its way
By Preston ForeDecember 4, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
16 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.