Business leadership’s commitment to AI is increasingly grounded in results. Despite broader uncertainty, investment in AI continues. Executives see evidence of the technology’s impact on productivity, growth and business value, backed by employees reporting tangible benefits.
However, realized value remains limited for many organizations. With AI adoption well underway, the focus is now on pragmatism over hype and AI’s role in delivering return on investment.
Halfway into 2026, leaders feel less prepared to manage disruption, down seven percentage points on average.
Halfway into 2026, leaders feel less prepared to manage disruption, down seven percentage points on average.
C-suite executives are increasingly practical about how they respond to the macro environment.
73%
of leaders anticipate a surge in inflation
70%
expect a reduction of global economic growth
49%
plan to diversify their supply chains
52%
would continue to invest in AI even if a bubble burst, yet only 10% believe a significant bubble exists
Leadership investment in AI remains strong, but value realization is elusive.
Leadership investment in AI remains strong, but value realization is elusive.
Those pulling ahead are redesigning infrastructure, redefining roles and building the workforce capabilities that turn AI adoption into business reinvention.
82%
of C-suite leaders are increasing AI investment
55%
are confident their agentic AI initiatives will deliver board-reportable business outcomes within the next year
23%
report widespread, sustained business value from AI, down from 32% earlier this year
To what extent has your organization realized measurable business value from AI implementation so far?
Few organizations are currently realizing widespread value from AI. Unlocking it comes from redesigning work, roles and operating models for change.
Few organizations are currently realizing widespread value from AI. Unlocking it comes from redesigning work, roles and operating models for change.
One of the clearest indicators an organization has crossed from experimentation into transformation is through agentic AI.
49%
of companies are piloting or deploying AI agents
7 in 10
C-suite leaders say the impact of agentic AI has been greater than expected on employee productivity
81%
of employees feel AI tools have increased their overall productivity at work
71%
of employees say their overall job satisfaction has increased since AI tools were introduced
To what extent has your overall job satisfaction changed since AI tools were introduced?
Leaders and employees rarely agree on the pace of change.
Leaders and employees rarely agree on the pace of change.
78%
of leaders expect employee roles to change in 12 months
57%
of employees have indicated their roles have already changed
41%
of leaders believe their organization is very prepared to respond to talent disruption
34%
of employees believe their organization is very prepared to respond to talent disruption
C-suite leaders: To what extent do you believe employees’ job roles and responsibilities will change due to AI implementation in the next 12 months? Employees: To what extent have your role and responsibilities changed due to AI implementation?
Three workforce trends are unfolding in parallel.
Three workforce trends are unfolding in parallel.
The skills gap has concentrated in middle management, with C-suite leaders and employees (both 36%) identifying it as the organization's largest AI capability gap.
73%
of leaders say their organization will likely create new entry-level roles focused on AI over the next 2 years
52%
of leaders expect to hire more entry-level talent due to AI
61%
of employees now turn to AI before a colleague
When thinking of AI, what level of talent do you believe has the most significant skills gap at your organization?
The productivity gains are real. The investment is committed. Now comes the real challenge: reinvention.
Moving from using AI to running on AI requires reinvention.
The winners won't be the organizations that deploy AI the fastest. Rather, they'll be the ones that combine technology, work redesign and workforce transformation to realize enterprise-wide value.
Methodology
Accenture conducted two complementary global surveys between April and June 2026. The first surveyed 3,000 C-suite leaders from the world’s largest organizations (annual revenues greater than $500 million) across 19 industries and 20 countries. The second surveyed 3,000 employees (non-C-suite) from organizations of the same scale, also across 19 industries and 20 countries. Together, the surveys capture perspectives on the current business environment, including the drivers of disruption, preparedness to respond to change and the impact of emerging technologies such as Al on talent.
C-suite Roles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Chief Innovation Officer
- Chief Technology Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer
- Chief Production Officer
- R&D Lead
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief Sales Officer
- Chief Customer Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief HR Officer
- Chief Data Officer
- Chief Analytics Officer
- Chief Experience Officer
US Federal Government / Public Services only:
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Chief Digital Officer
- Chief Procurement Officer
- Director General/Minister/Executive Director
- Deputy Minister/Deputy Director
- Secretary/Assistant Secretary
- Division Chief
- Chief Marketing Officer/Director of Communications
- Chief Security Officer
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Singapore
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Aerospace and Defense
- Airline, Travel, Transport
- Automotive
- Banking (Retail)
- Capital Markets (including Investment Banking)
- Chemicals
- Communications, Media, and Entertainment
- Consumer Goods
- Energy
- Health
- High Technology
- Industrial Goods and Equipment
- Insurance
- Life Sciences
- Natural Resources
- Public Service
- Retail
- Software and Platforms
- US Federal Government
- Utilities