54% of I&O leaders cite cost optimization as top goal for AI adoption

Fifty-four percent of infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders said cost optimization is their top goal for adopting AI, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc., a business and technology insights company.

The survey was conducted online from May through July 2025 among 253 respondents from the U.S., U.K., India and Germany, to identify the key goals and challenges that heads of I&O face.

Expert Take:
“While AI is the top growth area for future I&O investment, integration difficulties (48% of respondents) and lack of budget (50% of respondents) were cited as top adoption challenges,” said Melanie Freeze, Research Director at Gartner.

Gartner says I&O leaders need to adopt AI intentionally. “Rather than chasing big AI projects, they should start with high-value, feasible pilots and flexible upgrades,” said Freeze. “For example, organizations could use GenAI for cloud cost management to automatically analyze cloud billing, resource usage and infrastructure efficiency.”

Cybersecurity operations and talent/skills development are the second and third most common areas, where many I&O leaders (49% and 48%, respectively) expect to increase their investments in the future.

Gartner