Gartner says 44% of CEOs struggle to demonstrate AI financial returns
IT•Gartner found 44% of CEOs struggle to demonstrate AI-driven financial returns to stakeholders, while 75% plan to increase technology investment. The survey covered 203 global CEOs and senior business executives in April and May 2026.
1. Survey findings
Gartner found 44% of CEOs struggle to demonstrate AI-driven financial returns to stakeholders. Despite those challenges, 75% plan to increase technology investment, and 62% rank revenue or business growth as a top strategic priority. Sixty-three percent cited radical operating-model redesign as a top move to accelerate tangible AI financial returns through 2027; 52% supported deploying AI agents as employees, and 47% cited significant business restructuring to unlock or reallocate capital.
