Insights from the AI & Data Leadership Executive Benchmark Survey 2025

Every year, I like to start with the AI & Data Leadership Executive Benchmark Survey by Randy Bean.?? Since 2012, the survey and summary data points have always been consistent with what I have been seeing from customers and the marketplace. ?Special thanks to Randy Bean , Tom Davenport and DataIQ for sharing the survey.

I’ve divided my highlights from the survey into two sections: Technology Growth and People and Process Challenges.

Technology Growth

1. Investment in Data & AI is Accelerating Rapidly

• Data Point: 91% of companies now view data and AI as top organizational priorities.
• Highlight: AI and data are firmly established as critical drivers of business success. ?

2. Generative AI is Steadily Moving Into Production

• Data Point: The percentage of organizations deploying generative AI at scale increased from 5% in 2024 to 24% in 2025. ?
• Highlight: While there are challenges, early adopters are seeing success moving from pilot to production.

People and Process Challenges

Culture Remains the Biggest Barrier

• Data Point: 92% of respondents identified people and organizational change as the main barrier to establishing data- and AI-driven cultures, while only 8% cited technology as the issue.?
• Highlight: Despite technological advances, people and processes remain the greatest obstacles. A lack of data and AI literacy programs, coupled with insufficient communication, continues to hinder progress toward data- and AI-driven organizational cultures.

The Chief Data Officer Role is Evolving but Faces Organizational Obstacles

• Data Point: While 84% of organizations now have a Chief Data Officer (CDO) or Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO), only 47.6% consider the role “very successful.” Additionally, 53.7% of CDOs have tenures under 3 years, reflecting high turnover.
• Highlight: Cross-functional alignment remains a challenge. Building synergy across the C-suite (CDOs, CAIOs, CIOs, CMOs, etc.) is crucial, yet collaboration struggles persist. Unified visions and better-defined roles are needed to enable meaningful progress.

?Responsible AI is a Growing Priority

• Data Point: 77.6% of organizations now have Responsible AI safeguards in place, up from 62.9% in 2024. However, 43.5% report a shortage of talent to ensure success.
• Highlight: Responsible AI has become a critical focus, yet talent gaps persist, and misinformation remains the top perceived threat (53.2%). Aligning cybersecurity, data and AI strategies are a challenge.

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Closing Thoughts

The survey highlights for me that while progress is being made in data and AI leadership, challenges like cultural transformation, responsible AI implementation, and leadership alignment continue to demand attention. As organizations scale their AI efforts, the ability to address these barriers will reduce the complexity in delivering value with data and AI.