NetApp®, the intelligent data infrastructure company, has released a new report titled The AI Space Race. The report examines which countries are leading the competition to become global AI innovation leaders.

The findings are based on a survey of CEOs and IT executives from the U.S., China, the U.K., and India. NetApp revealed that while some countries are ahead, every region has the potential to succeed in the race for AI dominance.

According to the report, AI is now essential for business success. The region that leads in AI will gain advantages in economic growth, quality of life, and political influence. NetApp emphasized that organizations must make their data accessible, secure, and scalable to generate valuable AI outcomes.

Gabie Boko, CMO at NetApp, compared the AI race to the 1960s space race. She stated that intelligent, scalable, and secure data infrastructure will be key to gaining an edge. Companies that get their data ready for AI will unlock business insights and operational efficiencies.

The report highlighted that:

• 81% of global respondents are piloting or scaling AI projects.
• 88% say their organizations are mostly or completely ready for AI transformation.

Respondents from India (29%) and the UK (32%) reported feeling increased pressure to compete. China and the U.S. are seen as current frontrunners. However, NetApp noted that all countries are investing heavily, and the field remains wide open.

Regional strategies also differ. In China, 35% of leaders focus on scalability, 11% higher than the global average. Meanwhile, the U.S., U.K., and India prioritize integration with existing systems, aiming for long-term value.

NetApp also reported misalignment in China between CEOs and IT leaders. While 92% of Chinese CEOs claimed active AI projects, only 74% of IT leaders agreed. In contrast, the U.S. showed stronger internal alignment, with 61% of both groups rating their organizations as AI-ready.

Despite optimism, challenges remain. Globally, 79% expressed concerns about poor data strategies leading to broken models and biased AI insights.

Russell Fishman, Senior Director of Product Management at NetApp, stated that strong data infrastructure and cloud solutions are vital for AI success. He said organizations that invest in intelligent data infrastructure will extract the most value from AI.

NetApp emphasized that an AI-ready infrastructure must be secure, agile, and scalable. It should enable seamless cloud transitions, cost control, and adaptability.

As AI shifts from content generation to action, NetApp reported that data-level security is essential. Only intelligent infrastructure can ensure trust and control while moving fast in the global AI race.

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