What CTOs Think

A new report from Akkodis, "What CTOs Think: Using Digital Transformation to Scale Skills and Unlock Enterprise Potential," reveals a widening disconnect between the drive to implement AI initiatives and the operational readiness required to execute them successfully. This study, now in its second year, draws on insights from 500 global Chief Technology Officers and is part of the Adecco Group's broader "Leading in the age of AI: Expectations versus reality" research.

The findings highlight critical AI trends shaping enterprise transformation and underscore the evolving and increasingly central role of CTOs in aligning people, strategy, and technology for AI adoption.

Declining Confidence in AI Strategy

Although enterprise AI investment continues to accelerate, confidence in the strategies guiding this transformation is falling. C-suite confidence in AI strategy dropped from 69% in 2024 to just 58% in 2025. The sharpest declines were reported by CTOs and CEOs, down 20 and 33 percentage points respectively—an indication of mounting concerns over AI scalability, implementation delays, and the tangible return on AI investments are yielding meaningful results.

Executive Fluency: A Key Barrier to AI Adoption

CTOs also pointed to a leadership gap in AI understanding. Only 55% believe their executive teams have the fluency needed to fully grasp the risks and opportunities associated with AI adoption. Among employees, that figure falls to 46%, signaling a wider AI trust gap that could hinder successful AI implementation and long-term success.

This lack of fluency is not simply a communications issue—it reflects limited technical understanding and inconsistent alignment at the leadership level. Without clear, informed leadership, organizations risk stalling AI progress and weakening the credibility of AI-driven initiatives.

Shifting Skill Needs: Emphasizing Human Capabilities for AI Success

While technical expertise remains foundational (51% of CTOs cite specialist IT skills as the top capability gap), the Akkodis report emphasizes that broader, human-centric skills are becoming equally critical for effective AI integration. These essential competencies include:

• Creativity (44%)
• Leadership (39%)
• Critical thinking (36%)

These skills are increasingly vital for interpreting AI outputs, driving innovation, and adapting AI systems to diverse business contexts. As AI becomes embedded in daily operations, organizations require not only deep technical skills but also the cognitive and strategic agility to apply these tools effectively.

Upskilling Efforts Lack Strategic Direction

Despite growing investment in employee learning and development, many organizations still lack the infrastructure to ensure training is targeted and impactful. Only 20% of CTOs report using data tools to assess current workforce skills or monitor learning progress. As a result, training often occurs in silos, disconnected from business goals or role-specific requirements.

The report recommends embedding capability development directly into enterprise systems—linking learning to operational workflows and performance objectives. This shift would enable continuous, in-context skill development that evolves alongside digital transformation goals.

Building Internal Talent: A Strategic Imperative for AI

While many enterprises continue to focus on external hiring to address capability gaps, the report cautions that this approach may fall short for scaling AI. External hires often lack the organizational knowledge and cross-functional relationships needed to implement AI at scale. Leaders are encouraged to pursue a more balanced strategy: combining targeted recruitment with structured internal development pathways to build sustainable, enterprise-wide AI capabilities.

The Evolving Role of the CTO in the AI Era

As organizations transition from AI experimentation to deep AI integration, CTOs are increasingly seen as pivotal enterprise transformation leaders. Their responsibilities now extend beyond infrastructure and operations to include cross-functional AI strategy, executive enablement, and systems design that supports both technical and human capacity.

By aligning skills strategy with enterprise architecture and fostering greater AI fluency across leadership teams, CTOs can help close the gap between AI ambition and execution—building organizations that are not just AI-ready, but AI-confident.

The "What CTOs Think" report is based on fieldwork conducted between November 2024 and January 2025. Explore more information and access the full report.

About Akkodis

Akkodis is a global digital engineering company and Smart Industry leader. We enable clients to advance in their digital transformation with Consulting, Solutions, Talent, and Academy services. Headquartered in Switzerland and part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis is a trusted tech partner to the world’s industries. We co-create and pioneer solutions that help to solve major challenges, from accelerating the clean energy transition and green mobility, to improving user and patient centricity. Empowered by a culture of inclusion and diversity, our 50,000 tech experts across 30 countries combine best-in-class technologies and cross industry knowledge to drive purposeful innovation for a more sustainable tomorrow. We are passionate about Engineering a Smarter Future Together. akkodis.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook| X

About the Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organizations to optimize their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).  https://www.adeccogroup.com/

Contact

Anne Friedrich
SVP, Global Head of Communications, Akkodis
M. +4915174633470
E. anne.friedrich@adeccogroup.com

Ariane Olleris
Manager External Communications The Adecco Group
M. +33 7 61 79 71 43
E.  ariane.olleris@adeccogroup.com