Executives Losing Faith in AI Despite Increased Investment
A Clear Shift in Confidence Levels Among C-Suite Leaders
Recent data reveals a surprising trend: confidence in corporate AI strategies among top executives is dropping, even as investments in AI technologies continue to climb. A global survey conducted by consultancy Akkodis, involving 500 CTOs and 2,000 executives, highlights this growing disconnect.
Specifically, overall C-suite confidence in AI initiatives has fallen from 69% in 2024 to 58% in 2025. The most pronounced decline is among CEOs and CTOs—the very leaders tasked with driving innovation. The share of CEOs who feel "very confident" about their AI strategies has dropped sharply from 82% to 49%, while CTO confidence slipped from 82% to 62% over the same period. This suggests that delays, scalability issues, and unmet expectations are causing skepticism at the highest levels.
Different Perspectives Within the C-Suite
Not all executives share this loss of faith. Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) and Chief Operating Officers (COOs) are growing more optimistic. Confidence among HR leaders rose from 53% to 63%, and COOs reported an increase from 54% to 58%. This divergence likely reflects their focus on operational improvements, workforce development, and process automation—areas where AI is delivering tangible benefits.
The Knowledge Gap and Its Implications
The survey flags a significant issue: only 55% of CTOs think their fellow executives possess the AI fluency needed to grasp both the risks and opportunities of these emerging technologies. CTOs themselves are taking steps to improve their understanding, with 64% boosting their AI knowledge in the past year compared to 58% of other executives.
Supporting this, a recent Gartner study found that less than half of CEOs believe their CIOs are truly AI-savvy. This gap in expertise risks hampering effective AI adoption and strategy execution.
The Persistent Talent Shortage
One of the biggest barriers to successful AI integration is the widening talent gap. Despite pouring resources into AI, companies struggle to build or hire the necessary skills. According to 51% of CTOs, specialist IT skills remain the largest deficiency.
However, technical skills alone aren’t enough. Executives emphasize the growing importance of creativity (44%), leadership (39%), and critical thinking (36%). These human skills are essential for interpreting AI outputs and adapting AI systems to complex business needs.
Training Challenges and Infrastructure Gaps
Even with increased investment in employee development, many organizations lack the tools to track the effectiveness of AI-related training. Only 20% of CTOs say they use data tools to assess workforce skills or monitor learning progress. Without this insight, training programs risk falling short of what’s needed to support AI deployment successfully.
What This Means for Executives
The initial hype around AI as a complete solution has given way to a more cautious reality. Companies like Klarna have scaled back their AI projects or faced low adoption rates. Yet, investment in AI continues to rise—suggesting a shift toward more practical, outcomes-focused efforts.
For executives in strategy and human resources, this means prioritizing clear communication on AI goals, closing knowledge gaps within leadership, and building comprehensive training frameworks that measure impact. Developing both technical and human skills within teams will be critical to turning AI investments into real advantage.
Executives looking to enhance AI capabilities and training within their organizations can explore targeted learning opportunities at Complete AI Training.
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