CEOs, CIOs clash over AI’s value

2026-06-26 · Source: Information and Enterprise Technology News | CIO Dive - Www.ciodive.com · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Project & Product Management · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

A Protiviti survey, conducted in partnership with the University of Oxford and published on June 26, 2026, reveals a significant divergence in confidence regarding AI's value among C-suite executives. The study, which surveyed over 850 global C-suite executives, found that 61% of CIOs and other tech leaders are confident AI drives revenue growth, while fewer than one-third of CEOs and board members share this perspective. Conversely, 40% of chief operating officers reported AI's potential as a value creator. The report highlights that organizations with greater AI maturity and strong C-suite alignment on outcomes demonstrate higher performance. Challenges include data issues, costs, workforce skill gaps, and difficulty in quantifying immediate ROI. Bridging this gap requires universal understanding of success, shared metrics, and clear communication of AI's business value.

Key takeaway

For CTOs and CIOs leading AI initiatives, you must proactively bridge the confidence gap with CEOs and board members. Anchor your AI programs to clear enterprise strategies and define measurable business KPIs from the outset. Regularly communicate progress using business-centric language, not technical jargon, to build trust and demonstrate tangible ROI. This alignment is crucial for securing sustained executive support and successful AI transformation.

Key insights

C-suite alignment on AI outcomes is critical for realizing value and boosting executive confidence.

Principles

• AI value perception varies by C-suite role.
• Maturity and alignment drive AI performance.
• Productivity gains do not equal business value.

Method

Achieving AI value requires anchoring programs to enterprise strategy, defining measurable KPIs, and communicating progress in business terms, ideally before transformation launch.

In practice

• Establish shared AI success metrics.
• Communicate AI progress in business terms.
• Align AI governance with strategy.

Topics

• AI Value Realization
• C-suite Alignment
• Digital Transformation
• IT Strategy
• Executive Confidence
• ROI Measurement

Best for: VP of Engineering/Data, AI Product Manager, Executive, CTO, Director of AI/ML

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Information and Enterprise Technology News | CIO Dive - Www.ciodive.com.