However, among those in the process of deploying AI, a substantial number of projects were doomed.

IDC's Artificial Intelligence Global Adoption Trends and Strategies report focused on respondents' AI strategy, culture, and implementation challenges, as well as their AI data readiness initiatives and the production deployment trends expected to experience growth in the next two years.

Firms blamed the cost of AI solutions, a lack of qualified workers, and biased data as the principal blockers impeding AI adoption internally. There were also skills shortages and unrealistic expectations as the top two reasons for failure, in fact, with a full quarter reporting up to 50 percent failure rate.

More than 60 percent of companies reported changes in their business model in association with their AI adoption, and nearly half said they'd established a formal framework to encourage the ethical use, potential bias risks, and trust implications of AI, according to IDC.

Only a quarter had established a senior management position to ensure adherence.