One truth remains constant in the fast-changing age of AI: data is both fuel and friction. In this latest edition of our AI Pulse Survey series, we explore the state of data quality and readiness to support AI efforts, uncovering both encouraging advancements and persistent challenges. Survey results reveal the value of having confidence in data. Respondents who are “very confident” or “confident” are more likely to report that AI investments have significantly exceeded their return on investment (ROI) expectations, and conversely, those respondents who are “not confident” or only “somewhat confident” in the quality of their data are more likely to report that their return on AI investments falls below their expectations.

As organizations advance along the AI maturity continuum, the nature of their data challenges shifts, though some issues remain of concern. For those at more advanced stages, issues related to data reliability, completeness and accessibility persist, often stemming from unclear definitions, inconsistent taxonomies and fragmented aggregation. While respondents at the higher end of AI maturity did not rank these issues as their top concerns, challenges like siloed data and integration difficulties — first identified in Protiviti’s inaugural AI Pulse Survey — continue to impact organizations across all levels of maturity.

Major findings include:

• Progress with AI closely correlates with the quality and management of data.
• Organizations with strong data confidence consistently report higher satisfaction with their AI ROI.
• Bias is likely there — recognizing it is the real challenge.
• Security restrictions and tech gaps are top data challenges.