The AI Revolution and Its Impact on the IT Industry
Credit: Getty Images/Andriy Onufriyenko
The IT industry has always been a dynamic landscape, but the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up like never before. At the recent SpiceWorld conference, experts discussed the transformative influence of generative AI on IT practices, hiring, and professional skill requirements. Here’s a deep dive into what this means for current and aspiring IT professionals.
Upskill: A Necessity in the Age of AI
There’s a prevalent belief that advancements in AI could threaten job security, causing potential job losses. However, the narrative is different in the IT sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT jobs are projected to grow at a staggering 9% from 2024 to 2034, three times the growth rate of the average job. This surge is largely due to the new security challenges that organizations face as they incorporate AI technologies.
Skills in Demand
Peter Tsai, head of technology insights at Spiceworks, highlighted some key insights during the panel discussion. "AI opened a whole new can of worms for security," he explained. In light of this, there’s a growing need for IT professionals to not only attend to existing security frameworks but also to develop skills specific to AI technologies.
Spiceworks’ preview of its 2026 State of IT report indicates that 63% of IT professionals view AI prompting skills as critical—this marks a whopping 53% increase from the previous year. Yet, interestingly, confidence in one’s AI skills has decreased slightly, with only 49% of professionals feeling confident this year, as opposed to 42% last year.
For anyone in IT, upskilling in AI is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity. Dedicating time to learning about this crucial technology can enhance productivity and streamline workloads significantly.
Investing in AI: Getting It Right
Organizations across the board are pouring investment into AI, including within the IT domain. The 2026 Spiceworks State of IT noted that AI software investments represent about 2.7% of median IT computing infrastructure spending. While this figure may appear modest, industry experts argue that the reality is far more significant when considering supplementary infrastructure enhancements that support AI.
Jim Rapozza, a VP and principal analyst at Aberdeen Strategy & Research, emphasized how the actual investment in AI could be multiple times higher when all related spending is considered. "Businesses are building up their infrastructure to support AI initiatives," Rapozza said.
The Quest for ROI
But do these heavy investments guarantee immediate returns? Not necessarily, although progress is being made. Companies are already beginning to see the fruits of their labors. For instance, Rodrigo Gazzaneo from Amazon Web Services (AWS) detailed how one manufacturing client used AI tools to streamline their ERP systems, leading to significant time-saving without the need for data scientists.
Gazzaneo advocates for a strategy he describes as “crawl, walk, run.” In this model, companies should initiate their AI journey with attainable short-term goals. Achieving these early wins can serve as a foundation for further exploration and ambitious projects.
Navigating the Growth Phases
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Crawl Phase: This is where organizations set manageable goals that can be accomplished quickly, ensuring some early success to build confidence.
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Walk Phase: As companies gain traction, they can move toward experimentation, enhancing previous success and aiming for more sophisticated projects.
- Run Phase: This final stage is where companies analyze the broader business impact of their AI integrations. Typically, this is when organizations see the most significant returns on their investments.
As Gazzaneo summarized, reaching the ‘run’ phase means implementing AI projects that genuinely add value to the company, transforming operations and enhancing customer satisfaction.
The integration of AI into the IT sector represents a considerable shift in how professionals operate, collaborate, and hone their skills. For those in IT and the technology sector as a whole, understanding these trends and preparing to adapt is crucial for both personal growth and organizational success.
