- 87% of CEOs are betting on the success of AI, but they face pressure from all angles
- Around three-quarters face board pressure to deliver a significant return on investment
- Impatient Workers Use Risky, Unapproved AI Tools
A new study from Dataiku has revealed how much business leaders are betting on AI, with four in five worried that their jobs could be at risk by the end of 2026 if their AI plans fail.
At the same time, more than half (56%) of the 900 global CEOs surveyed admit that their competitors have stronger AI strategies, implying that there is a growing sense of insecurity and uncertainty about what constitutes a solid AI plan.
“CEOs are betting their jobs on AI, but they still question its results and fight to control the systems they say they own,” explained CEO Florian Douetteau.
Article continues below.
Is CEO success determined by AI strategy?
About three in four U.S. CEOs say their board is pushing them to deliver measurable results (72%) and rank AI as one of their top priorities (78%), with nearly nine in 10 (87%) now betting their jobs on AI success.
However, while data suggests that investment in AI continues to grow, confidence is not as high. Half of critical business decisions still require human approval, and up to four-fifths still question AI performance. Trust in AI agents is also heading in the wrong direction, up to 31% in 2026, compared to 41% in 2025.
Regulatory uncertainty is also playing a larger role this year (51% compared to 37%), with many concerned that poor explainability could lead to trust issues among customers.
Dataiku’s report also serves to illustrate where some of the challenges are heading, and it’s clear that infinite options may not be all they’re cracked up to be. Two in three (65%) worry about investing too much in the wrong AI platforms rather than investing too little.
Looking ahead, CEOs will come under more pressure as risks around shadow AI increase. Nearly all (96%) believe employees are using unapproved GenAI tools, which could put sensitive company information at risk. The answer is a delicate balance between investing in the right tools to deliver a strong return on investment and investing in the right tools to reach workers where they are and put an end to shadow AI.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
