A new study has found that 98.4% of organisations are planning to increase their investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven strategies. According to the survey conducted by the Data & AI Leadership Exchange in partnership with DataIQ, fully 90.5% of respondents ranked AI and data as top business priorities for the year, an increase from 87.9% in 2024.
“While companies have long struggled to wring value out of their data initiatives, something big has changed in the last two years: Generative AI has spurred greater interest and investment in data quality and broader data capabilities,” wrote the study’s co-author Randy Bean in the Harvard Business Review. “To succeed with AI, companies are doubling down on finally getting data right.”
Key insights on AI investments and organisational challenges
The findings of the survey indicate that these investments are already delivering measurable benefits, with 93.7% of Fortune 1000 companies reporting business value from their AI initiatives. Organisations cite key outcomes such as improved customer acquisition and retention, enhanced customer satisfaction, and increased productivity and revenue. Among those seeing returns, 18.1% report high levels of measurable value, 28.3% have experienced rapidly growing benefits, and 32.3% observe modest but steadily increasing returns.
Despite the planned investments, the majority of organisations remain in the early stages of AI implementation. The survey reveals that 76.1% are in testing, experimentation, or limited production phases. However, 23.9% of companies have scaled AI to full production, marking a sharp rise from 4.9% in 2024, a nearly 500% increase year-on-year.
Organisational culture continues to pose barriers to AI adoption, with 91.2% of respondents identifying cultural resistance as a greater obstacle than technological challenges. Progress in building an AI-driven culture remains limited, as only 32.5% of Fortune 1000 companies report having achieved this, compared to 24.4% five years ago.
The survey highlights a growing focus on responsible AI practices, including governance and safeguards. A total of 77.6% of organisations have implemented frameworks to ensure ethical AI use, up from 62.9% in 2024. Concerns over risks such as misinformation and disinformation remain prevalent, with 53.2% of firms citing these issues, compared to 44.3% last year.
Talent shortages are another significant challenge. Around 43.5% of organisations report difficulties in recruiting skilled professionals to manage and sustain responsible AI initiatives. These findings underscore the complexities of establishing and maintaining robust AI governance.
AI and data leadership roles are increasingly prominent within organisations. The survey shows that 84.3% of companies have appointed chief data and analytics officers, a marked rise from just 12% in 2012. Additionally, 33.1% have filled the emerging role of Chief AI officer, while 43.9% of organisations plan to establish this position.
However, challenges persist in retaining leaders for these roles. Over half (52.4%) of organisations report turnover issues, while 77.8% note that the average tenure for these positions is less than three years. Despite these issues, 70.8% of organisations now consider AI and data leadership as permanent C-suite roles, with 36.3% of leaders reporting directly to senior executives such as the CEO or COO.
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