It seems like every company is obsessed with artificial intelligence these days, regardless of how the technology is transforming their industry or the effects it has on employees and customers.
But the extent to which companies are using AI tools internally and adapting to a rapidly changing reality varies greatly. New research from the AI-Driven Enterprise Institute (AIDE) reveals just how good it is S&P 500 companies – and their leaders – are embracing AI more than their peers.
The top players, surprisingly, are concentrated in the technology industry, according to the data, which was shared with CNBC. When looking at four areas – literacy, advocacy, guidance and implementation – AIDE awarded each company up to 100 points in the four categories and gave an overall index score.
In technology, the company’s top score (the ratio of the pillars of standing and implementation) and only 100, went to the manufacturer. Nvidiawhich has become the world’s largest company by selling chips and systems that have enabled the development of AI models and services. Meta again Amazon and score 100, but in the S&P 500, those companies are considered telecommunications services and consumer choice names, respectively.
The only 100 company results to the power producer SLBformerly Schlumberger. The next highest scorer was the merchant Walmartfollowed by AES again NextEra Energyboth of which are classified as utilities.
The new open source index draws on publicly available data such as transcripts of earnings calls, job openings and patent applications to measure how much executives know and say about AI, and how much their companies are prioritizing the technology and bringing it into daily operations.
The data doesn’t measure whether AI is driving returns, but it’s intended to give leaders an objective way to compare their strategy to peers without relying on self-reported research, said Paul Cheek, CEO of AIDE and a senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“When the board asks the CEO – ‘How are we doing compared to our peer group?’ – I don’t want it to be speculation,” said Cheek in the interview. “I want there to be data they can use to back up what they have to share.”
Cheek said there is “huge room for improvement” for board members and executives to increase their AI literacy, adding that boards need to better understand AI “as it relates to risk management and strategic investment in organizations that create value for all of us.”
Here are the 20 companies with the highest company scores, based on their “direction” and “use” scores:
- Nvidia (100)
- Schlumberger (100)
- Amazon (100)
- Meta (100)
- Walmart (95.84)
- AES (95.46)
- NextEra Energy (95.44)
- Ecolab (95)
- Digital Realty (94.74)
- Chevron (94.74)
- Alphabets (94.72)
- Equinix (94.59)
- IQVIA (93.75)
- Dow (93.34)
- Halliburton (92.83)
- Broadridge Financial Solutions (91.66)
- Microsoft (91.37)
- Block it (90.91)
- Duke Energy (90.91)
- PepsiCo (90.62)
These companies were at the top of their field based on the “AIDE Index”:
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