What is technical debt according to HFS Research and Unqork?

Technical debt occurs when teams use quick fixes or shortcuts, leading to future costly rework and maintenance.

Will AI reduce or increase technical debt, according to IT managers?

While 55% expect AI to reduce technical debt, 43% fear it will create new issues, citing security and integration concerns.

How can companies guard against AI creating new tech debt?

Focus on traceability, productized architectures with reuse, and quantifying business outcomes to manage AI's impact.

Home / Technology / AI's Double-Edged Sword: Cost Savings vs. Tech Debt Surge

AI's Double-Edged Sword: Cost Savings vs. Tech Debt Surge

21 Nov

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Summary

43% of IT managers fear AI will create new technical debt.
84% of IT managers expect cost reductions from AI adoption.
Security, legacy integration, and visibility are top AI debt concerns.

AI's Double-Edged Sword: Cost Savings vs. Tech Debt Surge

The integration of Artificial Intelligence into business operations presents a dual outlook, with significant expectations for cost reduction and productivity gains, yet a substantial concern regarding the creation of new technical debt.

A recent study indicates that 84% of IT managers foresee cost savings from AI, and 80% expect productivity boosts. However, a counterbalancing 43% of these managers express apprehension that AI will exacerbate technical debt. This anxiety stems from worries about security vulnerabilities (59%), the complexity of integrating legacy systems (50%), and a general loss of visibility (42%).

Technical debt arises from rushed solutions and shortcuts in software development, leading to future rework. Experts suggest that for AI to effectively reduce, rather than increase, technical debt, a focus on traceable implementations, productized architectures, and clear business outcome quantification is crucial. Without these measures, the benefits of AI may be obscured by escalating maintenance costs and complexity.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.