Artificial intelligence (AI), when integrated correctly, enables organizations to learn and then act on information—powering businesses to make predictions, automate processes and optimize logistics. Although AI has the potential to add almost $16T to the global economy by 2030, 81 percent of business leaders do not understand the data and infrastructure required for AI. Businesses need a prescriptive, strategic approach to successfully modernize their information architectures (IA) with AI.

Successful AI models rely on collection and organization of data—a unified and open information architecture is necessary to prime data and ready businesses for an AI and multicloud world. The AI ladder gives organizations a set of guiding principles for the four areas of AI: how to collect, organize and analyze data, and ultimately, how to infuse AI into business practices.

The AI ladder: A prescriptive approach

1. Modernize

“Modernize,” in the AI context, means building an information architecture for AI that provides choice and flexibility across the organization. In order to meet today’s demands and stay competitive tomorrow, organizations need an efficient, agile data architecture.

2. Collect

AI is only as good as the data. Once an organization has modernized its architecture, it’s imperative for them to establish a strong foundation of data, making it simple and accessible, regardless where that data resides.

3. Organize

Confidence in your AI relies on trustworthy, complete and consistent data. Data must be cleansed, organized, catalogued and governed to ensure that only authorized individuals are able to access it.

4. Analyze

Once data is collected and organized in a trusted, unified view, an organization can now build and scale AI models across the business. This allows companies to glean insights from all of their data, no matter where it resides, and engage with AI to transform their business — resulting in a clear competitive advantage.

5. Infuse

Many businesses create highly useful AI models, but then encounter challenges in operationalizing them to attain broader business value. Organizations can help advance their business agenda by putting AI to work in multiple departments and within various processes — from payroll, to customer care, to marketing — drawing on predictions, automation and optimization.

Embracing AI leads to competitive advantage

In today’s hybrid, multicloud world, organizations that modernize their information architecture to embrace artificial intelligence can solve core business problems and create competitive advantage. With the proper tools, business practices and strategy, your organization can unlock the full potential of your data to embrace the power of AI. To learn more about the unique approach and solutions that IBM brings to data modernization and integrating AI, read the smart paper “Unleash Data and AI for competitive advantage.”