The Power of AI in Breaking Down Business Tech Debt

Technical debt is a big problem for many companies. It is caused by quick fixes and shortcuts taken to meet deadlines. These shortcuts add up over time and can slow down a business. The total cost of this tech debt is huge. It is estimated to be over 1. 52 trillion dollars. This debt can hold a company back from moving forward with new technology. Many companies have been stuck with this debt for a long time. A recent report suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) might be the solution to this problem. The report was created by a technology research firm. It surveyed 800 executives. The findings show that AI could help break through the accumulated tech debt. The idea for this report came from a project. The project involved helping a large insurance company move away from old mainframe systems. This experience led the researchers to question if the usual methods of handling tech debt are effective. They found that many companies have the tools to tackle tech debt. However, they often face resistance or lack of motivation to use them. The report suggests that the best way to handle tech debt is to see it as a chance for big changes. It is not just about making things faster. It is about doing things in a completely new way. This is not just an engineering problem. It is a design problem. The report found that 80% of executives believe AI will help with modernization. Many companies plan to use AI-driven services to boost their business. However, there are still challenges. Many companies lack the skills, data, or governance needed to build an AI-driven business. Ethics and compliance are also big concerns. Many companies struggle to integrate AI with their old systems. The report suggests using AI to understand and retire old systems. It also suggests rebuilding around AI, not just adding it on top of old systems. This means rethinking workflows, data models, and governance with intelligence as the foundation.