CEOs take charge as global AI investment surges in 2026

A new study from Boston Consulting Group shows that CEOs worldwide are rapidly assuming ownership of artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, with investment levels set to double in 2026 compared to last year.

The AI Radar 2026 global study, which surveyed 2,400 business executives including 640 CEOs, found overwhelming commitment to continued AI spending, with 94% of chief executives planning to maintain or increase investment even if returns take longer to appear, and 90% believing AI agents will deliver measurable ROI by the end of 2026.

The research also highlights a significant shift in leadership responsibility, with over two-thirds of CEOs now acting as the primary decision-makers for AI initiatives, overtaking CIOs who traditionally led these programmes.

Christopher Schweizer, CEO of Boston Consulting Group, commented: “Corporate investment in AI is here to stay. 94 percent of our survey respondents say they will continue to invest in 2026, even if it takes time to see the return. They intend to spend 1.7% of revenue on AI comprehensively. That is more than twice of what it was a year ago.”

BCG also reports accelerating adoption of agentic AI, with more than 30% of CEOs investing in AI in 2026, saying they plan to build and deploy agents within their organisations.

Sachin Agrawal, Managing Director for Zoho UK, commented: “As CEOs take a more direct role in shaping AI strategy, the focus now needs to shift toward practical, well governed adoption that delivers measurable value. This makes it even more important for organisations to build internal AI literacy and maintain strong data protection standards so that AI initiatives are both credible and built for long-term impact.

“By keeping data privacy and clarity at the centre of any AI strategy, organisations create the right foundation to make informed decisions and adopt AI responsibly. Successful adoption depends on structured implementation. Pilot programmes that deliver incremental value, supported by automation, data governance and strong security practices, help organisations move beyond experimentation and establish approaches that improve operations.

“This disciplined approach is essential if UK businesses are to close the investment gap highlighted in the BCG study and turn AI into a sustainable competitive advantage rather than a short term trend.”

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Stuart Harvey, CEO of Datactics, commented: “As CEOs take direct ownership of AI strategy, it’s a clear signal that artificial intelligence is no longer an experimental technology but a core business priority. However, with this level of investment and executive accountability comes a greater responsibility to ensure the foundations underpinning AI initiatives are sound. The success of any AI programme depends not just on ambition or spend, but on the quality and governance of the data driving these systems.

AI agents and advanced models promise efficiency and measurable returns, but without accurate, well-governed data, organisations risk scaling problems rather than value. CEOs stepping into the driving seat must ensure that data quality, lineage and integrity are treated as strategic concerns, not technical afterthoughts. Strong data governance will be critical in turning AI investment into sustainable ROI, reducing operational risk and ensuring AI delivers outcomes businesses can trust.”