3 in 4 global leaders to prioritise AI investment despite uncertainty - Business Standard

2026-04-20 · Source: artifical intelligence via Google News · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Operations & Process Management, Marketing, Branding & Advertising · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

A KPMG International report, "Global AI Pulse Q1 2026," reveals that while 95% of organizations have an AI strategy and plan to invest an average of $186 million in AI over the next 12 months, only 8% report established return on investment. The study, based on insights from 2,110 senior executives across 20 countries, highlights a widening gap between AI leaders (11%) and laggards. Leaders achieve meaningful business value (82% vs. 62% for non-leaders) not through greater investment or deployment, but by integrating AI as an orchestrated, enterprise-wide system. Key challenges for many include value measurement, governance agility, data privacy, cybersecurity, and workforce resistance. AI agents are most commonly deployed in technology/IT (66%), operations (55%), and marketing/sales (43%).

Key takeaway

For CTOs evaluating AI strategy and investment, recognize that simply increasing spend or deployment will not guarantee ROI. Your focus should shift to designing the enterprise to operate with AI as a cohesive, orchestrated system, integrating AI agents across functions to drive measurable business value and avoid becoming an AI laggard. Prioritize governance agility and address data privacy concerns proactively.

Key insights

Despite high AI investment, most organizations struggle to realize value, creating a gap between leaders and laggards.

Principles

• AI value requires enterprise-wide orchestration.
• Investment alone does not guarantee AI ROI.

Method

Integrate AI as an orchestrated, enterprise-wide system, moving beyond isolated deployments to coordinate AI agents across functions and workflows for measurable business value.

In practice

• Deploy AI agents for code acceleration.
• Use AI in operations for workflow orchestration.
• Apply AI in marketing for personalized engagement.

Topics

• AI Investment Priorities
• Enterprise AI Strategy
• AI Value Realization
• AI Leaders
• AI Agent Deployment

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

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by artifical intelligence via Google News.