Emergence of AI in Business Operations: A Wharton Report Insight

• The use of generative AI in businesses has risen from 37% in 2023 to 72% in 2024, indicating a substantial shift in attitudes towards AI.
• The highest use of generative AI is in document and proposal writing and editing (64%), followed by data analysis and analytics (62%).

An article by Stefano Puntoni from Wharton, discusses the findings of the report “Growing Up: Navigating Gen AI’s Early Years”, which analyses the changing perception and increased integration of AI in business operations.

According to the report, more than 800 senior business leaders in large organizations reported a significant shift in their use and perception of AI. In 2023, only 37% reported using AI weekly, which has risen to 72% in 2024. The report indicates a decrease in negative perceptions such as worry and skepticism as more decision-makers explore AI’s potential benefits.

The report also outlines the widespread deployment of generative AI across various functions, with the highest use in document and proposal writing and editing. Other high-use areas include data analysis, customer service, fraud detection, and financial forecasting.

However, the survey highlighted concerns about AI’s accuracy, bias, data privacy, team integration, and ethics. Puntoni emphasized the importance of viewing AI as a tool and the need to build systems for fact-checking AI outputs.

The report reflects a generally positive outlook on the future of AI, with organizations continually experimenting with AI to understand its optimal use.

Discover more at Wharton.