CTO Confidence in AI Falls Despite Growing Investment
Akkodis research reveals rising AI investments aren’t enough—executives stress fluency, creativity, and leadership as keys to success.
5 minutes
5th of February, 2025
As per DIGITnews, despite record AI investments, confidence among tech leaders is falling. An Akkodis global survey of 500 CTOs reveals C-suite confidence in AI strategies dropped from 69% in 2024 to 58% in 2025, with CEOs and CTOs showing the sharpest declines amid rising adoption challenges.
AI Fluency Gaps Undermine Executive Confidence and ROI
A growing challenge for organizations is the lack of AI fluency at the leadership level. According to the Akkodis survey, only 55% of CTOs believe their executive teams fully understand the risks, opportunities, and business impact of AI. This knowledge gap is not only slowing adoption but also limiting measurable returns on AI investments.
Only 55% of CTOs believe leadership teams understand AI’s risks and opportunities.
Without stronger AI literacy and strategic clarity, even record-breaking investments risk underdelivering on innovation, efficiency, and long-term business value.
Why Soft Skills Are Critical for Successful AI Adoption
The Akkodis report makes it clear that technical expertise alone cannot guarantee AI success. To achieve real business value, organizations must pair advanced AI adoption with human-centric skills like creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and strategic decision-making.
“CTOs must now lead holistic, cross-functional strategies to bridge the gap between ambition and execution,” the study concludes.
Companies that balance AI innovation with strong leadership and people skills are better positioned to overcome implementation challenges, drive sustainable digital transformation, and gain a lasting competitive advantage.