Setting the right pace for AI: Insight from Gartner IT Symposium

AI is moving faster than ever – transforming industries, reshaping business models, and redefining what it means to be competitive. But as AI advances, there’s one important question CIOs and IT leaders must work to answer: How do you set the right pace in this race?

Gartner’s keynote, “Pacing Yourself in the AI Races,” hit the nail on the head for the challenges IT leaders are facing today. And one thing is certain: In this new technological race, it doesn’t matter how fast you go, but how smartly you run the race. 

So whether you’re paving the path with cutting-edge AI innovations, following trailblazers to scale AI with proven technologies, or simply adapting to inevitable business changes, understanding your pace in this AI race is critical to success. 

AI as an enterprise necessity

According to Gartner, 73% of CIOs plan to increase their investment in AI over the next year. And for most enterprises, AI won’t be just another tool in the toolbox – many plan on it being central to their growth over the next several years. Enterprises expect 50% of AI benefits to be focused on productivity, 30% on process improvements, and 20% on business model innovation.

At Tray.ai, we’ve seen firsthand how AI is reshaping businesses by making processes smarter, more efficient, and more responsive to both customer needs and internal demands. Whether it’s accelerating integration velocity or powering intelligent automations, AI’s potential to deliver real, transformative value is unprecedented. 

In other words, AI is no longer a future goal—it’s a present-day necessity. Businesses that get on board now are the ones that will lead tomorrow. 

The three tracks in the AI race

Every organization will approach AI adoption at its own pace, but broadly speaking, Gartner has outlined three key tracks in the AI race: the trailblazers, the fast followers, and those who embrace transformation. 

1. Trailblazers lead the charge: These are the AI pioneers, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI, investing heavily in AI research, and creating new capabilities that can potentially redefine entire industries. According to Gartner’s AI Opportunity Radar, these projects often focus on game-changing, external-facing services that revolutionize how businesses interact with their customers or deliver their products.  But trailblazing isn’t without its risks. Moving too fast without fully understanding the potential pitfalls of AI could lead to costly missteps, both financially and reputationally. Prudence dictates employing Proof of Concepts (POCs) to meticulously evaluate how costs scale, thereby transforming AI initiatives into true Proofs of Value that mitigate risks while unlocking transformative potential.

2. Fast followers:  Then there are fast followers—those who recognize the value of AI but prefer to wait until the trailblazers have proven the tech’s worth. These organizations often focus on scaling AI initiatives that have already shown success, and optimizing them for their specific needs. The great thing about being a fast follower is that you get to learn from early adopters’s success – and their mistakes.  

3. Change drivers embrace transformation: Finally, there’s the group that isn’t necessarily focused on leading the AI race but is deeply committed to integrating AI as a transformational force. This group includes businesses where AI is already allowing employees to make smarter decisions, and establishing a norm for the role of AI in daily business operations.  These organizations are driving change internally, using AI not just as a tool but as a catalyst for employee empowerment. 

So it's not just businesses that are driving AI adoption. Employees, empowered by AI, are becoming vital agents of change within organizations.

The risks of running too fast

As Gartner emphasizes, balancing ambition with control is key to navigating AI’s potential risks. While AI offers big opportunities, organizations must also weigh the risks—particularly in terms of ethical considerations, data privacy, and unintended outcomes.

Running too fast without risk controls is like building a rocket without brakes. The further we go, the more careful we must be.

At Tray.ai, we’ve been mindful of these risks, ensuring that we build in safeguards that mitigate potential pitfalls as companies scale their AI initiatives on our platform. Our approach to AI implementation has always focused on giving businesses the power to infuse AI into their processes in a fast, flexible, and safe way.

Setting your own pace in the AI race

Gartner’s keynote is clear: While AI is a race, it’s not important who gets there first. It’s about who gets there best. Every organization has its own optimal pace for AI adoption, and businesses need to find their right speed based on their goals, capabilities, and appetite for risk. 

Whether you’re leading the way, following close behind, or just adapting to this fast-changing world, the AI race isn’t about how fast you go —it’s about moving with purpose and precision. 

If you're ready to explore how AI can transform your business, we at Tray.ai are here to help. We’ve spent years refining our AI-ready iPaaS to give businesses  the ability to infuse AI faster, more flexible, and safer. 

Visit our Merlin Intelligence page to learn more.