Core Insights - The study commissioned by IBM indicates that sports fans are increasingly engaging with dynamic digital content, with AI, personalization, and real-time features being central to their experiences [1][2] Group 1: AI and Technology in Sports Engagement - 85% of surveyed fans see value in integrating AI into their sports experience, with 63% expressing trust in AI-generated content [2] - Real-time game updates (35%) and personalized content (30%) are identified as top priorities for AI-enhanced engagement [2] - 80% of fans believe AI will significantly influence how they follow sports by 2027 [4] Group 2: Consumption Habits and Preferences - 90% of fans consume sports content beyond just watching events, with younger fans leading this trend [9] - 73% of surveyed fans use dedicated mobile sports apps to stay updated, with 82% of in-person event attendees using apps during events [3][9] - 35% of fans plan to watch more live content in the next two years, and 29% expect to attend more events in person [7] Group 3: Community and Interaction - Interest in community-driven experiences is rising, with the share of fans ranking community engagement as a top priority increasing from 9% in 2024 to 11% in 2025 [14] - 21% of respondents identify community-building and fan interaction as important areas for AI-driven improvements in sports engagement [14] Group 4: Content Consumption Trends - Fans are turning to video highlights (51%), post-event recaps (37%), and player interviews (32%) to stay connected to their favorite sports [3] - 74% of fans following sports influencers value storytelling in their sports experience, particularly among those aged 18-44 [9]

Core Insights - The average cost of a data breach in the U.S. has risen to $10.22 million, while the global average has decreased to $4.44 million [1][7] - There is a significant gap between AI adoption and its security governance, with only 49% of breached organizations planning to invest in security post-breach [1][13] Breaches and AI Security - 13% of organizations reported breaches involving AI models or applications, with 97% of those lacking AI access controls [6] - 60% of AI-related security incidents resulted in compromised data, and 31% led to operational disruptions [6] - Organizations extensively using AI in security operations saved an average of $1.9 million in breach costs and reduced the breach lifecycle by 80 days [3][4] Financial Impact of Breaches - The global average cost of a data breach fell to $4.44 million, marking the first decline in five years, while U.S. breaches reached a record high [7] - Healthcare breaches remain the most expensive, averaging $7.42 million, despite a $2.35 million reduction compared to 2024 [7] - Organizations that detected breaches internally saved an average of $900,000 in breach costs compared to those disclosed by attackers [7] Operational Disruption - Nearly all organizations studied experienced operational disruption following a data breach, with most taking over 100 days to recover [8] - Almost half of the organizations reported plans to raise prices due to breaches, with one-third indicating increases of 15% or more [9] AI Governance and Shadow AI - 63% of breached organizations lack an AI governance policy, and only 34% of those with policies conduct regular audits [7] - One in five organizations reported breaches due to shadow AI, with those using high levels of shadow AI facing $670,000 higher breach costs [7] Ransom Payment Trends - There is a growing trend of organizations refusing to pay ransom demands, with 63% opting not to pay compared to 59% the previous year [13]

Industry Overview - Cloud computing has become a significant driver of innovation and digital transformation, allowing users to access and store data over the Internet without managing physical servers [2][3] - The global cloud computing market is projected to grow from $752.4 billion in 2024 to $2,390.2 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 20.4% [6] Cost Efficiency - Cloud computing eliminates fixed capital expenses related to hardware and software purchases, reducing operating costs associated with maintaining onsite data centers [4] - The pay-per-use pricing model allows enterprises to only pay for the computing resources they utilize, enhancing cost-effectiveness [4] Service Categories - Cloud computing services are categorized into four main types: IaaS, PaaS, serverless, and SaaS, each offering varying levels of control and flexibility [5] Major Players Microsoft Corporation - Microsoft Azure provides a wide range of IaaS and PaaS solutions, with increased availability in over 60 regions globally [9][10] - The company is heavily investing in AI-powered cloud services, integrating various AI solutions into Azure [12] Amazon.com, Inc. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading player in the cloud computing market, offering over 200 services and maintaining a strong customer base [13][14] - AWS aims to enhance its AI and ML capabilities to improve decision-making and expand its global infrastructure [15] International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) - IBM has strengthened its position in the hybrid cloud market through acquisitions like Red Hat, which enhances its cloud and data platform offerings [16][17] - The company is expected to benefit from strong demand for hybrid cloud and AI solutions, driving growth in its Software and Consulting segments [18] Arista Networks Inc. - Arista specializes in cloud networking solutions, providing high-capacity, low-latency platforms that support various cloud management frameworks [19][20] - The company has introduced cognitive Wi-Fi software and continues to expand its multi-cloud and cloud-native software product family [21][22]

Core Insights - Enterprises are expected to significantly scale AI-enabled workflows, with a projected increase from 3% today to 25% by the end of 2025 [2][6] - 70% of surveyed executives consider agentic AI important for their organization's future, indicating a trend towards experimentation with AI technologies [2][5] - The study highlights that 83% of respondents anticipate AI agents will enhance process efficiency and output by 2026 [3] AI Adoption and Benefits - The top five benefits driving the adoption of agentic AI systems include improved decision-making (69%), cost reduction through automation (67%), competitive advantage (47%), scaled employee experience (44%), and improved talent retention (42%) [6][7] - AI investment is projected to grow from 12% of IT spend in 2024 to 20% by 2026, reflecting AI's transition from experimentation to a core business strategy [7] - The proportion of organizations using an ad hoc approach to AI has decreased from 19% to 6%, indicating increased confidence in AI-driven transformation [7] Methodology and Research Background - The study was conducted by the IBM Institute for Business Value in partnership with Oxford Economics, utilizing two surveys involving 2,900 executives across various industries and regions [8] - The surveys explored AI's impact on business operations, including revenue, profitability, productivity, and resource efficiency [8]

Core Insights - Mavenir, in collaboration with Three UK and Red Hat, successfully validated the performance advantages of 5G non-standalone O-RAN compatible small cells in Glasgow, achieving a doubling of 5G speeds during peak hours [1][2][3] - The project marks the first pilot of an Open RAN in a dense urban environment in the UK, demonstrating the integration of O-RAN compatible small cells with traditional macro base stations [1][2][4] - The pilot achieved peak 5G speeds of 520 Mbps in the trial area, significantly enhancing network capacity and user experience [1][3] Project Details - The SCONDA project, supported by the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), aims to enhance small cell density in urban areas [2][5] - Mavenir's complete 4G and 5G O-RAN solutions include OpenBeam small cell radio units running on Red Hat OpenShift, facilitating automated network performance management in complex RF environments [2][3] - Following the successful trial of 18 sites, the project will expand to a total of 34 small cells [1] Industry Impact - The integration project demonstrates the capability of Open RAN to seamlessly work with traditional vendor equipment, potentially attracting global interest in wireless network design [3][4] - The collaboration between Mavenir and Red Hat is expected to enhance network performance and unlock new 5G application potentials for operators [3][4] - The pilot serves as a foundation for scaling urban Open RAN deployments and optimizing performance in complex environments [3][4]

Core Insights - A global study by IBM reveals that CEOs are committed to advancing AI solutions despite challenges from rapid technology adoption [1][2] Group 1: AI Investment and Adoption - 2,000 CEOs surveyed expect AI investment growth to more than double in the next two years, with 61% actively adopting AI agents [2][7] - 50% of CEOs report that rapid investment has led to disconnected technology within their organizations [7][8] - Only 25% of AI initiatives have delivered expected ROI, and 16% have scaled enterprise-wide [8] Group 2: Data and Collaboration - 68% of CEOs identify integrated enterprise-wide data architecture as critical for cross-functional collaboration [3] - 72% view proprietary data as key to unlocking the value of generative AI, yet 50% acknowledge challenges in cultivating an effective data environment [3][8] Group 3: Leadership and Talent - 69% of CEOs believe success is tied to having leaders with a deep understanding of strategy and decision-making authority [6][12] - 67% of CEOs state that differentiation depends on having the right expertise in the right positions with appropriate incentives [12] Group 4: Innovation and Risk Management - CEOs face pressures of balancing short-term ROI with long-term innovation [5][8] - 64% acknowledge that the risk of falling behind drives premature investment in technologies [8] - 59% admit struggles in balancing funding for existing operations and innovation during unexpected changes [8] Group 5: Future Expectations - By 2027, 85% of CEOs expect positive ROI from investments in scaled AI efficiency and cost savings [8] - 77% anticipate a positive return from investments in scaled AI growth and expansion [8]

Core Insights - IBM plans to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years to enhance its role in global computing and stimulate the economy [1] - The investment includes over $30 billion dedicated to research and development for mainframe and quantum computer manufacturing in the U.S. [1] - IBM emphasizes its commitment to American jobs and manufacturing, aiming to maintain its leadership in advanced computing and AI capabilities [1] Investment and Economic Impact - The investment is expected to create new economic opportunities in the U.S. and globally, reinforcing IBM's commitment to innovation [4] - IBM's mainframes, manufactured in Poughkeepsie, New York, handle over 70% of the world's transactions by value, highlighting their critical role in the economy [2] Quantum Computing Initiatives - IBM operates the world's largest fleet of quantum computer systems, with plans to continue designing and assembling these systems in America [3] - Quantum computing is identified as a significant technological shift that will address problems beyond the capabilities of conventional computers, enhancing American competitiveness and national security [3] - IBM's Quantum Network provides access to quantum systems for nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies and has over 600,000 active users [3]

Core Insights - The rapid evolution of computing technology has led to a shift from traditional office computers to cloud computing, allowing users to access and store data over the Internet without managing physical servers [1][2] Industry Overview - Cloud computing is characterized by on-demand access to computing resources as services over the Internet, gaining popularity due to its flexibility and scalability [2] - The global cloud computing market was estimated at $602.3 billion in 2023, with a projected CAGR of 21.2% from 2024 to 2030, impacting various industries such as healthcare, finance, education, retail, and manufacturing [5] Cost Efficiency - Cloud computing reduces fixed capital expenses and operating costs by eliminating the need for onsite data centers and IT management, operating on a pay-per-use model [3] Service Categories - Cloud computing services are categorized into IaaS, PaaS, serverless, and SaaS, providing different levels of control and flexibility for enterprises [4] Technological Integration - Cloud computing supports AI and machine learning workloads, offering powerful computing capabilities for data processing and analysis, making it suitable for Big Data management [4] Key Players - IBM has strengthened its position in the hybrid cloud market through acquisitions like Red Hat and HashiCorp, enhancing its capabilities in managing complex cloud environments [7][8] - Microsoft Azure is a leading public cloud provider, offering a wide range of IaaS and PaaS solutions, with a focus on AI integration and global data center availability [10][11][12] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) dominates the IaaS market, providing a comprehensive cloud platform with over 200 services, aimed at lowering costs and increasing agility for its customers [13][14][15] - Alphabet's Google Cloud has rapidly expanded, becoming the third-largest cloud provider, with significant investments in infrastructure and AI capabilities [16][17][18]