April 10th, 2025

3 min read

Eve Psalti believes the key to success lies in recognizing that AI isn’t just a tool but a transformative force that can drive innovation, efficiency and growth at every level of the business. 

Psalti’s perspectives are drawn from her impressive 20-year career in technology and business, including her current position as Senior Director, Microsoft Artificial Intelligence. She previously held senior business development, sales and marketing leadership positions at Google Cloud, Microsoft and startups across the U.S. and Europe. 

Psalti sat down with NTT DATA’s Head of Global Strategic Alliances, Sandip Gupta, to talk about enterprise-wide strategies for AI integration.

“Successful AI adoption isn’t just about technology—it’s about aligning AI with business needs, breaking down silos, and fostering an innovation ecosystem. At NTT DATA, we collaborate closely with partners like Microsoft to bridge gaps between enterprise challenges and AI-driven solutions. Whether it’s helping global retailers scale with cloud-based AI or enabling automotive leaders to accelerate product innovation, our goal is to integrate AI in a way that drives real, measurable business impact. The future belongs to organizations that embed AI across every function, transforming not just operations but entire industries.”

Sandip Gupta, Head of Global Strategic Alliances, NTT DATA

Bridges and Barriers 

AI is becoming a crucial driver of business success. A recent survey by NTT DATA, which polled 2,300 Gen AI decision-makers across 12 industries and 34 markets, revealed some fascinating insights into where AI is heading and how companies can overcome the hurdles that come with its adoption. While 99 percent of respondents said they are committed to increasing their AI investments, challenges abound. From legacy infrastructure to scaling solutions effectively, the road to AI integration is fraught with obstacles. However, those who succeed can unlock unprecedented efficiencies and growth. 

Says Psalti, “AI is changing rapidly. We see more democratization, smaller and more efficient models, and multimodal AI transforming industries from finance to healthcare.” With the growing need for flexibility, businesses are embracing cloud solutions as they look for more agile and scalable methods of integrating AI into their operations. In fact, in NTT DATA’s survey, 96 percent agreed that cloud-based solutions are the most cost-effective path for AI adoption. 

For companies looking to successfully integrate AI, a carefully structured strategy is key. Psalti shares these important strategies: 

  • Start Small

    It’s vital to identify low-risk, high-value use cases that can provide immediate impact. By beginning with smaller projects, companies can test the waters before embarking on large-scale AI implementations.

  • Align AI to Business Goals

    Avoid using AI for the sake of innovation. Focus on areas where it can reduce inefficiencies and optimize workflows.

  • Reskilling and Upskilling

    With AI changing the nature of work, continuous training is necessary to equip teams with the skills they need. The shift to AI is not just a technological change; it’s a cultural one.

Research indicates that AI adoption can lead to productivity gains of 20 to 40 percent. As Psalti notes, “AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a way to improve productivity, drive innovation, and free up workers for higher-value tasks.” 

Despite the promise of AI, however, many companies struggle to scale their AI initiatives. One of the biggest hurdles is the siloed nature of AI efforts. AI must be embedded into the business strategy, not just treated as an isolated innovation project. “AI shouldn’t sit in an innovation lab. It must be part of the CEO’s mandate, with shared goals across decision-makers,” Psalti says. 

Organizations need to become what Psalti calls “AI-enabled enterprises,” integrating AI across the business. This includes operations, where AI-powered automation can streamline everything from supply chain management to data processing; decision-making, where predictive analytics and AI-driven insights allow for smarter, faster decisions; and, customer engagement, where AI chatbots, virtual assistants and personalized recommendations transform customer experiences. 

In support of this, Microsoft provides an AI developer platform with: 

  • Flexible Model Selection

    Microsoft supports both first-party and third-party models, giving organizations the freedom to experiment and select the models that best suit their needs.

  • Customization and Fine-Tuning

    With a robust set of tools for model customization, businesses can tailor AI solutions to their specific requirements.

  • AI Agents

    These agents automate complex tasks, improving efficiency and freeing up human resources for more strategic work.

“AI is rapidly evolving, becoming more democratized, efficient and multimodal – transforming industries from finance to healthcare. Organizations that fully embrace AI not just as a tool, but as a driver of efficiency, innovation and competitive advantage, will lead the future. Success depends on aligning AI with business goals, targeting inefficiencies, and unlocking value to enhance productivity and empower workers for higher-impact tasks.”

Eve Psalti, Senior Director, Microsoft Artificial Intelligence 

AI in Society 

One key to successful AI integration is collaboration. Microsoft works together with partners like NTT DATA to tailor AI solutions by industry and geography, and has developed joint AI initiatives with Continental, Daimler and Coca-Cola. “AI is a collaborative effort. Partners bring industry expertise, while Microsoft provides a powerful, flexible AI platform,” Psalti explains.  

AI adoption is ongoing, she adds – not a one-time event. Companies need to invest in the right technology, governance, talent and strategic alignment to fully leverage its potential. “The future belongs to organizations that fully embrace AI as a driver of efficiency, innovation and competitive advantage across every function.”