tech
February 3, 2026
Why CEOs are Turning to M&A for AI-Propelled Growth
EY-Parthenon's CEO Outlook Survey shows leadership commitment to AI as talent building and M&A shape technological transformation amid economic uncertainty
TL;DR
- Business leaders are strategically navigating economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions through technological transformation, with AI at the forefront.
- CEOs are reframing operational models to harness AI as a competitive differentiator, moving from experimental adoption to enterprise-wide deployment.
- Despite a slight dip in the CEO Confidence Index, CEOs are confident in their ability to strengthen performance internally and are willing to accelerate investments in response to geopolitical or trade policy developments.
- AI is seen as a major growth engine and a fundamental reshaper of operations, with a majority of leaders expecting it to drive growth in the next two years.
- Successful AI implementation is complex, with only 20% of companies capturing breakthrough returns, highlighting the need for new skillsets and organizational capability building.
- M&A is rising as a strategy to acquire AI capabilities and talent, as building expertise organically may not be fast enough.
- CEOs are adapting strategic investments in response to trade policy developments, with many accelerating investments.
- The winners in 2026 will be those who rewire capital allocation, navigate geopolitical complexity, and focus on technology-led M&A to build flexible and resilient portfolios.