Data remains a roadblock for AI adoption

Artificial intelligence is reshaping what’s possible across sectors—but federal agencies still face significant implementation hurdles. Chief among them: data integrity. In ICF’s recent survey on AI readiness in government, 83% of federal leaders cited data issues as a major risk to timely and successful AI adoption.

The data challenge in focus

Nearly a third of federal leaders (32%) say the biggest barrier to AI implementation is accessing reliable, consistent data. In total, 83% report challenges with data that is unclean, disorganized, or inaccessible—critical roadblocks to building effective AI systems.

To address this, agencies are prioritizing data modernization efforts. More than a third (36%) are implementing data governance frameworks, while 35% are partnering with external organizations to strengthen data capabilities. These foundational steps are key to unlocking AI’s full potential.