IBM’s 2025 CEO Study reveals global executives are accelerating AI adoption, betting on proprietary data and long-term innovation despite fragmented tech systems.
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| Despite facing disconnected tech and ROI challenges, CEOs surveyed by IBM are intensifying AI efforts, viewing data, talent, and risk-taking as competitive assets. Image: IBM |
Armonk, New York, USA — May 6, 2025:
IBM has released its 2025 Global CEO Study, revealing a dramatic uptick in artificial intelligence adoption across industries worldwide. The study, conducted by the IBM Institute for Business Value and based on responses from 2,000 chief executives, indicates that while organizations grapple with fragmented technology systems and rising demands for return on investment, CEOs are increasingly prioritizing AI as a long-term strategic asset.
According to the findings, 61% of surveyed CEOs are actively deploying AI agents, with expectations that overall investment in AI will more than double within the next two years. Despite short-term challenges, leaders are betting on the transformational potential of enterprise-wide AI integration. Nearly 72% of CEOs see proprietary organizational data as a key driver of generative AI value, while 68% emphasize the need for integrated data architecture to enable effective cross-functional collaboration.
However, the road to AI maturity is far from smooth. Half of the respondents acknowledged that recent tech investments have left their companies with disjointed systems, hampering innovation. Many leaders also struggle to balance operational budgets with investment in digital growth, especially in times of unexpected disruption. IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn, in the study’s foreword, urged CEOs to view AI not merely as a tool, but as a means to seize control in volatile environments, leveraging enterprise data as a competitive differentiator.
Mohamad Ali, IBM’s Senior Vice President and Head of Consulting, echoed that sentiment, stating that while executives face pressure to deliver short-term ROI, innovation remains the path to resilience. Only 25% of AI initiatives have met expected returns so far, and just 16% have achieved enterprise-wide scale. Nonetheless, 68% of CEOs report implementing clearer ROI metrics for innovation, with 85% projecting that their AI efficiency investments will yield positive returns by 2027. Similarly, 77% expect growth-oriented AI applications to deliver substantial gains within the same timeframe.
The report also highlights the critical role of leadership and talent in realizing AI’s promise. About 69% of executives believe success depends on empowering a diverse group of decision-makers with strategic depth. Meanwhile, 67% say organizational differentiation hinges on placing the right expertise in the right roles, supported by proper incentives. CEOs cited siloed operations, risk aversion, and knowledge gaps as persistent barriers to progress.
To bridge these gaps, 54% of CEOs say they are hiring for AI-related roles that didn’t exist a year ago, and 65% plan to use automation to address evolving skill shortages. The workforce itself is set for transformation, with 31% expected to undergo reskilling or retraining over the next three years.
Though cautious about the risks of rapid tech deployment, only 37% of CEOs endorse a “fast and wrong” approach. A majority prefer strategic precision over speed. Yet, 64% admit their organizations sometimes adopt technologies preemptively to avoid falling behind, even without fully grasping the long-term value.
IBM’s study ultimately paints a portrait of a global executive class confronting complexity but leaning into AI-driven change. CEOs are not only adopting new technologies—they are reshaping the foundations of how their organizations operate, compete, and grow in an increasingly digital economy.