According to a recent Gartner survey of 456 CEOs and senior executives worldwide, there is a clear gap between how CEOs view artificial intelligence (AI) and their confidence in their CIOs’ AI expertise. While 77% of CEOs acknowledge AI’s influence on business transformation, only 44% believe their CIOs are truly AI-savvy. This gap highlights an urgent need to upskill leadership to keep pace with AI’s growing role.
AI Readiness Gap in Executive Leadership
The survey reveals that this skepticism extends beyond CIOs to other key roles like CISOs and Chief Data Officers. CEOs see AI not merely as a tool but as a fundamental shift in business operations and societal impact. Despite this, two-thirds admit their current business models are ill-prepared for AI integration, and many doubt their leadership teams have the skills to fully leverage AI’s potential.
This concern isn’t new. Even before AI’s current surge, executives were rated as lacking sufficient digital skills. Now, with AI adoption accelerating, the gap between what’s needed and what’s available is widening, making leadership upskilling a critical priority.
Jennifer Carter, Principal Analyst at Gartner, points out: “CEOs have shifted their view of AI from just a tool to a transformative way of working. Success won’t come from hiring alone, but from equipping current employees to integrate AI into daily tasks.”
Obstacles to Effective AI Deployment
CEOs identify two main challenges in deploying AI successfully:
- Difficulty in hiring enough skilled AI professionals
- Challenges in measuring AI’s value and outcomes
Despite significant investments, many organizations struggle to quantify the returns from AI initiatives. This uncertainty, combined with a talent shortage, threatens to slow progress and reduce competitiveness. Addressing this requires a strong focus on upskilling existing teams.
Supporting this, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report found that 77% of organizations prioritize reskilling and upskilling to manage AI disruption. Gartner also predicts that 80% of software engineers will need to update their skills by 2027 as generative AI shifts workflows.
Philip Walsh, Director Analyst at Gartner, notes, “While AI will transform software engineering roles, human creativity and expertise remain essential for innovation.”
Creating a Culture of Continuous AI Learning
Upskilling demands a strategic, ongoing approach rather than occasional training sessions. PwC emphasizes that success depends on developing the right mindsets within organizations. Recognizing and adapting workforce mindsets can accelerate AI adoption and foster openness to new ways of working.
PwC’s Global Investor Survey highlights that 61% of investors see rapid AI adoption as very important. Yet, over 20% of workers believe AI won’t affect their jobs in the next five years, reflecting uncertainty and a need for clearer communication about AI’s impact.
As AI becomes embedded in business processes, leaders must actively guide conversations and help employees adjust to the changes.
For executives seeking practical ways to enhance AI skills across their organizations, exploring targeted training options can be a valuable step. Resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses offer structured programs to build AI proficiency where it’s needed most.
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