tech
January 29, 2026
What PwC's CEO Survey Reveals About AI Return on Investment
PwC's latest Global CEO Survey finds that, while technology is reinventing business strategy, leaders still struggle to see return on AI investment
TL;DR
- Global CEO revenue confidence is at a five-year low due to complex business landscapes, technological transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty.
- Despite increased investment, only 12% of CEOs report measurable financial returns (cost savings and revenue benefits) from AI in the past year.
- A significant gap is emerging between companies successfully deploying AI across operations and those still in pilot programs.
- More than half of CEOs surveyed have seen neither revenue gains nor cost benefits from AI investments.
- Over 40% of CEOs are concerned about their company's pace of transformation to keep up with AI.
- Companies competing in new sectors and those employing innovation-friendly practices report higher profit margins and greater confidence in growth.
- Strategic AI deployment, robust data management, and digital transformation are crucial for resilience and competitiveness.