A new global survey reveals a striking paradox in corporate artificial intelligence adoption: despite increasing investment in AI technologies, confidence among C-suite executives in their companies’ AI strategies has sharply declined. The findings, published in a report by consultancy Akkodis titled “What CTOs Think: Using Digital Transformation to Scale Skills and Unlock Enterprise Potential,” suggest a significant disconnect between the aspirations surrounding AI and the reality of its implementation within organizations.
Conducted globally, the survey gathered insights from 500 Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and a total of 2,000 executives. It found that overall confidence in corporate AI strategy among C-suite leaders dropped by a notable 11 percentage points over the past year, falling from 69% in 2024 to just 58% in 2025.
The Confidence Paradox Deep Dive
The decline in confidence was particularly pronounced among roles historically central to technology adoption and strategy. The rate of CEOs who reported feeling “very confident” in their company’s AI strategy plummeted from 82% in 2024 to a stark 49% in 2025. Similarly, confidence among CTOs, the very architects of technological infrastructure, fell from 82% in 2024 to 62% in 2025.
The report points to several factors likely contributing to this erosion of faith. Suggested reasons include project delays, disappointing results that fail to meet initial high expectations, and fundamental scalability concerns regarding how AI initiatives can be effectively expanded across the enterprise. The complex nature of integrating AI, coupled with potential gaps in understanding or unrealistic timelines, appears to be creating friction despite ongoing or even increasing financial commitment.
This downward trend suggests that while companies are willing to allocate resources to AI, the practical challenges of moving from pilot projects to widespread, value-generating deployment are proving more difficult than anticipated for many top executives.
Pockets of Optimism Emerge
Interestingly, the survey did not show a uniform decline in confidence across all executive functions. In contrast to their CEO and CTO counterparts, Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) and Chief Operating Officers (COOs) reported increased optimism regarding their company’s AI strategies. Confidence levels among CHROs rose from 53% to 63%, while COOs saw their confidence increase from 54% to 58%.
This divergence might be attributed to these roles observing more tangible, near-term progress in specific areas. The report suggests this could be due to CHROs witnessing positive impacts on workforce management and talent acquisition, or COOs seeing AI contribute to tangible progress in internal processes and operational streamlining. AI applications in areas like HR automation or supply chain optimization may offer more immediate and measurable results, fostering greater confidence among the executives responsible for these functions compared to those grappling with broader, more complex strategic AI deployments.
Bridging the Skills and Knowledge Gap
The Akkodis survey also highlighted a critical underlying issue: a perceived knowledge gap within leadership regarding AI. Only 55% of CTOs believe their C-suite peers possess the necessary AI fluency to truly understand both the associated risks and opportunities. This lack of deep understanding at the highest levels could significantly hinder effective strategy formulation and decision-making around AI investment and deployment.
Recognizing this challenge, the report notes that 64% of CTOs are actively working to address this gap within their organizations. Efforts to improve AI literacy among executive leadership are crucial for setting realistic expectations, identifying genuinely valuable applications, and navigating the ethical and operational complexities that come with scaling AI.
A lack of fluency can lead to misguided investments, an inability to properly evaluate project progress, and an underestimation of the infrastructure, data governance, and talent required for successful AI integration.
Implications for the Future of Corporate AI
The survey’s findings present a critical juncture for corporate AI adoption. The simultaneous rise in investment and fall in confidence suggests that many organizations may be focusing heavily on procurement and initial implementation without adequately addressing the foundational elements required for success: clear strategic alignment, robust data infrastructure, realistic project planning, and, crucially, a leadership team equipped with sufficient AI understanding.
The data indicates that the initial hype cycle around AI is giving way to the realities of execution. Companies are learning that AI is not a plug-and-play solution and that achieving return on investment requires more than just capital outlay; it demands sophisticated planning, careful integration, and continuous adaptation.
Moving forward, companies will likely need to shift their focus from simply investing in AI to executing AI strategies more effectively. This involves setting clearer objectives, ensuring accountability for results, investing in skills development not just for technical teams but also for leadership, and fostering a culture that can adapt to AI-driven changes.
Conclusion
The Akkodis report, “What CTOs Think: Using Digital Transformation to Scale Skills and Unlock Enterprise Potential,” paints a complex picture of the current state of corporate AI. While investment continues to grow, a significant decline in C-suite confidence, particularly among CEOs and CTOs, highlights fundamental challenges in achieving desired outcomes and scaling initiatives.
The survey’s details – the 11-point drop in overall C-suite confidence, the sharp decline for CEOs from 82% to 49% (very confident), the drop for CTOs from 82% to 62%, and the reasons citing project delays, disappointing results, and scalability concerns – underscore the operational hurdles being faced. Meanwhile, rising confidence among CHROs and COOs (53% to 63% and 54% to 58%, respectively), potentially linked to tangible gains in internal processes, offers a glimpse into where AI is delivering perceived value.
Ultimately, the findings serve as a critical reminder that successful AI integration requires more than financial commitment. Addressing the knowledge gap (only 55% of CTOs see peers as fluent, though 64% are working to improve this) and focusing on strategic execution, realistic goal-setting, and demonstrable results will be key to rebuilding executive confidence and unlocking the full potential of AI within the enterprise.
