A global survey of 852 C-suite executives, conducted by Protiviti in partnership with the University of Oxford, reveals a sharp divide between CEOs and technology leaders on the business value of AI. Chief information officers and chief technology officers express nearly double the confidence of CEOs that AI is driving revenue growth, and the gap in perceived transformation success points to executive misalignment as a critical barrier.
Confidence varies sharply by role
Technology leaders report 61% confidence in overall transformation outcomes, while CEOs and boards register just 34%. When asked specifically about AI's contribution to revenue, the contrast widens: 61% of CIOs and CTOs see AI driving revenue growth, compared to only 30% of CEOs and boards. Confidence scores sit below 20% in early-stage transformation efforts but climb above 70% in organizations at advanced maturity levels.
Kim Bozzella, Global CIO & CISO Solutions Leader at Protiviti, said, "Even the most purpose-driven technology transformation strategies can struggle to produce results if leadership teams aren't aligned on what success looks like."
Despite significant AI investment, many CEOs remain unconvinced of its impact. Resources like the AI Learning Path for CEOs can help executives bridge this knowledge gap and build a shared language with their technology teams.
COOs emerge as AI revenue growth champions
The survey found that 40% of chief operating officers selected AI as the capability with the greatest potential to drive revenue growth-the highest enthusiasm among all C-suite roles. This outlier suggests that alignment challenges are not uniform and that different operational perspectives may create pockets of strong AI conviction within the leadership team.
Data, security, and skills remain foundational hurdles
Beyond consensus issues, organizations face persistent barriers. Data platforms and governance rank as the top technology investment priority. Workforce skill gaps are among the most cited obstacles to change, and perceptions of cyber threats vary widely across the C-suite. Technology leaders who want to sharpen how they communicate value to business peers can explore the AI Learning Path for CIOs for strategies that connect technical progress to business outcomes.
Closing the alignment gap
The survey points to practical steps: define shared success metrics linking technology to business results, strengthen communication around AI enhancements and risks, and align investment strategies with long-term objectives. Without consensus on how work is changing, AI investments will fall short.
Why this matters for management, IT, and development leaders
For professionals across management, IT, and development, the findings make clear that AI success depends as much on organizational alignment as on technical capability. When CEOs and technology leaders view AI's impact through entirely different lenses, even well-funded modernization efforts can stall. Actively understanding and bridging these executive perspective gaps becomes a practical requirement for turning AI initiatives into measurable business outcomes.
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