One of the most notable changes from 2024 to 2025 is the significant increase in C-suite leadership of AI. In last year’s report, only 53 percent of respondents said that C-level executives led AI strategy; by 2025, that figure has risen to 81 percent. This shift is important: By taking ownership of decisions and accountability, executives enable enterprise-wide momentum—overcoming challenges, speeding up investments, and laying the foundation for large-scale AI infrastructure.
Along with this change is growing pressure to deliver returns quickly. In 2025, 51 percent of organizations expect to see an ROI from their AI investments within one year. This expectation puts pressure on IT and infrastructure teams to shorten deployment time, reduce obstacles, and manage risks.
The excitement remains high: 75 percent of respondents say they are still optimistic about their AI projects, and 71 percent report being “extremely confident” in their ability to execute their roadmaps—up from 53 percent last year. Meanwhile, only five percent of organizations say their adoption is still “nascent,” which is down from ten percent in 2024.
