IDC FutureScape Figure

Figure: IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Intelligence 2021 Top 10 Predictions

Executive Summary

IDC FutureScape Predictions

Summary of External Drivers

Predictions: Impact on Technology Buyers

Prediction 1: By 2021, External Shocks and Resulting Uncertainty Will Drive 75% of G2000 Companies to Discard Existing Decision Models and Focus on a New Framework for Decision Environments to Improve Resiliency

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 2: By 2024, 25% of G2000 Companies Will Invest in New Knowledge Networks That Include Automated Process, Behavioral, and Interactional Information Capture and Dissemination to Improve Enterprise Learning

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 3: By 2023, Driven by the Goal to Embed Intelligence in Products and Services, One-Fourth of G2000 Companies Will Acquire at Least One AI Software Start-Up to Ensure Ownership of Differentiated Skills and IP

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 4: By 2025, 30% of G2000 Companies Will Commit to Cloud Computing Resources Based on Cloud Providers' Own Silicon, Allowing Them to Benefit from Hyper-Customization for Extreme Data and AI Workloads

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 5: By 2025, Three-Fourth of G2000 Companies Will Supplement Their Data Science, Data Engineering, and Business Staff with Social Science Experts to Contextualize Machine-Driven Data Analysis and Recommendations

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 6: By 2026, the Need to Harness the Collective Intelligence of Humans, Machines at the Edge, and Endpoint Devices Will Drive 25% of G2000 Companies to Invest in Swarm Intelligence Solutions

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 7: By 2024, Deployment of ML-Based Automation for Intelligent Optimization Will Instead Solidify Rigid Processes, Resulting in the Inability of 25% of G2000 to Rapidly React to External Market Factors

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 8: By 2022, Driven by Board-Level Agenda, 75% of G2000 Companies Will Formalize Human Oversight of AI-Based Decision Automation to Combat Distrust of Autogenerated Recommendations and Reputational Risk

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 9: By 2023, as 80% of G2000 Embrace Flexible Data Science and Engineering Talent Sources, Two-Thirds Will Struggle with Visibility into and Governance of Processes and Behavior of These External Resources

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Prediction 10: By 2024, Organizations Unable to Bridge Growing Data, Analysis, and Decision Silos Will Experience a Doubling of Their Attention Poverty Rate, Leading to an Inability to Separate Signal from Noise

Associated Drivers

IT Impact

Guidance

Advice for Technology Buyers

External Drivers: Detail

Accelerated Disruption — Crisis, Resilience, and Opportunity

Strategic Innovation — Shaping the Future Enterprise Today

The Next Normal — Resilient Business and Operating Models

Intelligence Everywhere — Data Drives Action

Crisis of Trust — Meeting Rising Expectations

Work Transformation — Redefining Teams, Skills, and Leadership

The Learning Organization — Asymmetrical Advantage

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