Mon May 12 10:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Global CEOs Embrace AI Despite Adoption Challenges, IBM Study Reveals

**ARMONK, NY – May 6, 2025** – A new IBM Institute for Business Value study reveals that while CEOs globally are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI), significant hurdles remain in its widespread adoption. The study, surveying 2,000 CEOs across 33 countries and 24 industries, found that AI investment is expected to more than double in the next two years, with 61% already actively using AI agents.

However, the research highlights a disconnect between ambition and implementation. Half of the respondents admitted their organizations are struggling with a patchwork of disconnected technologies, a consequence of the rapid pace of recent investments. A critical factor cited for successful AI integration was a unified, enterprise-wide data architecture, deemed crucial by 68% of CEOs for cross-functional collaboration. Furthermore, 72% emphasized the importance of proprietary data in unlocking generative AI’s full potential.

IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn highlighted the need for CEOs to embrace risk and leverage their own data to gain a competitive edge in an uncertain business environment. Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, added that balancing short-term ROI with long-term AI innovation is key to future success. The study also emphasized the need for strategic leadership and specialized talent to overcome the skills gap hindering effective AI implementation.

The full study, conducted in collaboration with Oxford Economics, is available on the IBM website. It explores various aspects of AI adoption, including change management, decision-making processes, and regulatory concerns.

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