NetApp has published a new report titled The AI Space Race, examining how countries around the world are positioning themselves to lead in artificial intelligence (AI). The report is based on a survey of CEOs and IT leaders across the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and India. It suggests that while the US currently holds a perceived lead in AI innovation, the playing field remains open, with every country actively investing to gain an edge.
According to the study, 81 percent of respondents said their companies are already piloting or scaling AI initiatives, and 88 percent believe they are mostly or completely ready to support long-term AI transformation. However, perspectives on who is best placed to lead vary, with 43 percent of respondents naming the US as the frontrunner. Still, India and the UK report a heightened urgency to compete, with 29 percent and 32 percent of their respective respondents feeling extra pressure to keep up with the US and China.
“Companies and regions that can get their data ready for AI will be able to generate differentiating business insights and unlock operational efficiencies that launch them ahead of their rivals,” said Gabie Boko, Chief Marketing Officer at NetApp. “Intelligent, scalable, secure data infrastructure is a decisive factor as the global competition drives businesses to solidify their AI ambitions and understand how they translate into a true, lasting advantage.”
Strategic priorities vary across regions
The report highlights key regional differences in how AI is being implemented. Respondents in China place more importance on scalability, with 35 percent listing it as a top capability—11 percent higher than the global average. This suggests a strategy focused on rapid deployment for early gains. Meanwhile, organisations in the US, UK, and India are concentrating more on integration with existing systems, indicating a preference for building long-term infrastructure that supports sustained growth.
NetApp also pointed to internal alignment between CEOs and IT leaders as a potential factor influencing the pace of AI adoption. In China, a notable gap exists—92 percent of Chinese CEOs claim their organisations have active AI projects, while only 74 percent of IT leaders agree. Similarly, 68 percent of Chinese CEOs believe their organisations are AI-ready, compared to 58 percent of their IT counterparts. In contrast, the US shows stronger alignment, with AI readiness reported at 60 percent and 61 percent respectively between CEOs and IT leaders.
Such misalignments may affect a country’s long-term competitiveness, as successful AI strategies rely not only on ambition, but also on coordination between business and technology teams.
Data infrastructure remains the foundation for AI success
The report also underlines that data quality and management are critical to AI outcomes. Nearly four in five respondents expressed concerns about flawed models and biased results stemming from inadequate data and cloud strategies. To address this, companies must invest in robust data governance frameworks and secure infrastructure.
“One of the most significant success factors in the AI Space Race will be data infrastructure and data management, supported by cloud solutions that are agile, secure and scalable,” said Russell Fishman, Senior Director of Product Management at NetApp. “Winning organisations will be those that recognise that they require an intelligent data infrastructure in place to ensure unfettered AI innovation.”
Fishman added that NetApp aims to help businesses unify and manage data across their operations, allowing them to scale AI workloads efficiently, reduce costs, and maintain control. He also noted the importance of building a full chain of trust that starts at the data level, especially as AI evolves from generating content to driving real-world actions.
The report concludes that while the global AI race is still in its early stages, organisations that can act quickly and build scalable, secure data systems will be better positioned to lead. With AI becoming central to business competitiveness, intelligent infrastructure may prove to be the critical edge.
