CEOs worldwide are expecting the growth rate of artificial intelligence (AI) investments to more than double in the next two years, according to a recent report from IBM’s Institute for Business Value. This anticipated surge is prompting organizations to increase their AI-related hiring and reskilling initiatives.
The report, based on a survey of 2,000 CEOs globally, found that 61% are actively adopting AI agents and preparing to implement them on a larger scale. However, half of the respondents noted that rapid investments have resulted in disconnected technology and expertise. IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn emphasized that CEOs need to embrace risk as an opportunity to reap the benefits of AI adoption.
The survey highlighted that nearly 7 in 10 CEOs believe their organization’s success depends on having a broad group of leaders with a deep understanding of strategy and the authority to make critical decisions. Additionally, 67% of CEOs stated that differentiation depends on having the right expertise in the right positions with the right incentives.
Despite the optimism, several barriers to innovation were identified, including a lack of collaboration across organizational silos, an aversion to risk, and a lack of expertise. In response, CEOs indicated that about a third of their workforce will require retraining or reskilling over the next three years. Furthermore, 65% of CEOs plan to use automation to address skill gaps, and 54% are hiring for AI-related roles that didn’t exist a year ago.
Other surveys corroborate these findings. A Writer survey found that C-suite leaders are grappling with internal conflicts and silos while implementing AI adoption plans. About two-thirds of leaders reported that AI tools have led to divisions between IT teams and other departments, as well as between executives and employees. Some employees even admitted to ‘sabotaging’ their company’s AI strategy or refusing to use AI tools.
In contrast, a CompTIA report found that most job seekers recognize the importance of digital fluency skills. Both employees and job seekers are looking to build their skills, particularly in soft skills, data analysis, cybersecurity, and AI-related tools. A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis noted that among workers who use generative AI regularly, productivity increases by about 33% for every hour they use it. On average, workers who used AI daily saved four hours or more.
