How CEOs are Capturing AI's Opportunities Today

Today, AI has become a leading boardroom topic, given its vast potential to drive the future success of most organizations. There is no question that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created a defining moment for global CEOs. As AI moves from experimental to essential in 2025, the question every leader must answer is no longer "if" but "how" AI will transform their business.

To explore this critical juncture, I recently helped lead an extraordinary research effort at The Futurum Group , in close partnership with the management consulting firm, 科尔尼 , culminating in the most comprehensive CEO AI survey to date:

To achieve broadly usable insights, we conducted 213 quantitative and 20 in-depth interviews with CEOs of companies with more than $1 Billion in annual revenue to understand their current and future plans, opportunities, challenges, strategies, and insights on AI in their organizations and their products. This study covered

— 19 Industries

— 9 Major Corporate Functions (Cross Functional Areas)

— 30+ Countries

— 30,000 unique data points

The results are striking, revealing not only how AI is reshaping strategic priorities but also the practical steps CEOs are taking to navigate this rapidly evolving terrain.

This study delivers more than just data. It provides the first proven, actionable playbook for the strategic implementation of AI—a synthesis of what’s working for CEOs today, presented with the clarity and precision required at the executive level. Drawing from their candid reflections, the report highlights the challenges, risks, and opportunities that accompany AI adoption at the leadership level. It also underscores the need for robust governance, change management, and a focus on responsible, ethical AI use to ensure both success and trust.

The Voice of the CEOs: Key Themes and Insights

From our findings, several vital themes stand out:

• Strategic Leadership Is Non-Negotiable: Nearly 57% of CEOs personally lead their organization’s AI strategy, signaling the critical importance of direct executive involvement in driving innovation and alignment across the enterprise.
• Customer Experience at the Forefront: While efficiency and cost savings remain priorities, 66% of CEOs identified customer experience enhancement as the top business benefit of AI, reflecting its growing role as a competitive differentiator.
• Talent and Infrastructure Are Bottlenecks: A staggering 65% of CEOs cited talent scarcity as a major obstacle to AI implementation, while 81% emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure as a prerequisite for success.
• Governance and Ethics Demand Urgent Attention: With the rapid pace of AI development, 58% of CEOs have established internal ethical guidelines, but fewer have robust cross-functional governance frameworks in place, leaving gaps that could threaten trust.
• A Confidence Gap Persists: While 78% of CEOs feel moderately to very confident in their organization’s ability to adopt AI, only 49% believe both leadership and their broader organization are fully ready for AI-driven transformation.

These insights form the foundation of our actionable playbook, which provides CEOs with step-by-step guidance on aligning AI strategy with business objectives, building talent pipelines, fostering a culture of innovation, and implementing effective change management practices.

A Personal Reflection on a Transformative Study

Leading this research has been one of the most intellectually and professionally rewarding experiences of my long career. As the lead researcher on The Futurum Group side, I’ve been fortunate to engage deeply with some of the most visionary leaders shaping the future of business. Their perspectives—rooted in ambition, pragmatism, and a shared desire to create value through AI—were not only inspiring but also humbling.

This survey and the accompanying report reflect countless hours of collaboration, analysis, and synthesis to provide CEOs with insights they can act upon immediately. It is a study not just of AI’s capabilities but of the very essence of leadership in the face of transformative change.

Acknowledgments

This work would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partner, Kearney. Their expertise, insights, and global perspective were instrumental in shaping this study and ensuring its relevance to CEOs worldwide. I also want to thank the incredible team at The Futurum Group, especially my sponsors and co-authors Daniel Newman and Tiffani Bova , as well as our co-authors, researchers, and thinkers at Kearney who dedicated their talents to this project. These are Bharath Thota , Ramyani Basu , Ben T. Smith, IV , Bharat Kapoor , Michael R?mer , Dieter Gerdemann and Khalid Khan, PhD . Your commitment and creativity were the driving forces behind this landmark research. Lastly and far from least, a major thanks to the Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow , Bill McDermott , for providing the foreword.

Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to the CEOs who participated in the survey and interviews. Your openness and willingness to share your experiences made this study as rich and impactful as it is.

Moving Forward

The question, "Are CEOs ready to seize AI’s potential?" is not just theoretical; it’s a call to action. For those ready to lead, AI represents an unparalleled opportunity to redefine business models, unlock innovation, and create value at scale. I invite you to explore the full findings of our study, absorb the lessons on the CEO playbook contained within it, and join the conversation on how we can collectively shape an AI-powered future that benefits businesses, employees, and society alike.

For Additional Information: https://info.futurumgroup.com/ceos-ai-2025

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