• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • 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

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • 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
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet’s business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google’s search identity?
Big TechGoogle
Google Cloud revenue is now 18% of Alphabet’s business. Is this the beginning of the end of Google’s search identity?
By Alexei OreskovicApril 29, 2026
1 hour ago
Man wearing a suit and tie and glasses
Big TechTech
Microsoft, Meta, and Google just announced billions more in AI spending. Only Google convinced investors it’s paying off
By Amanda GerutApril 29, 2026
2 hours ago
A man in a suit and tie
InvestingMeta
Meta just bumped its 2026 capex forecast up to as much as $145 billion for the AI boom—and investors flinched
By Amanda GerutApril 29, 2026
4 hours ago
How JPMorgan’s CIO is reshaping work at the bank with a $19.8 billion annual tech and AI budget
NewslettersCIO Intelligence
How JPMorgan’s CIO is reshaping work at the bank with a $19.8 billion annual tech and AI budget
By John KellApril 29, 2026
10 hours ago
hollywood
CommentaryMarketing
I spent 20 years learning to navigate an industry. Then I built a campaign for the man who’s dismantling it
By Matti YahavApril 29, 2026
14 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for April 29, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for April 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 29, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
2 days ago
‘Take the money and run’: Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke on why the UAE quit OPEC
Energy
‘Take the money and run’: Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke on why the UAE quit OPEC
By Shawn TullyApril 29, 2026
20 hours ago
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
AI
‘The cost of compute is far beyond the costs of the employees’: Nvidia executive says right now AI is more expensive than paying human workers
By Sasha RogelbergApril 28, 2026
2 days ago
Jamie Dimon gets candid about national debt: ‘There will be a bond crisis, and then we’ll have to deal with it’
Economy
Jamie Dimon gets candid about national debt: ‘There will be a bond crisis, and then we’ll have to deal with it’
By Eleanor PringleApril 29, 2026
16 hours ago
More than two-thirds of U.S. schools say they’re unable to afford the cost of student free lunch—and MAHA’s dietary guidelines may make it worse
Economy
More than two-thirds of U.S. schools say they’re unable to afford the cost of student free lunch—and MAHA’s dietary guidelines may make it worse
By Sasha RogelbergApril 29, 2026
18 hours ago
Current price of gold as of April 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of April 28, 2026
By Danny BakstApril 28, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 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.