74% of CIOs Regret Major AI Vendor Decisions as Job Security Fears Mount Over ROI Pressure
Summary
Nearly three-quarters of CIOs regret major AI vendor decisions from the past 18 months and fear job loss if they cannot prove AI returns within two years, even as 60% of CFOs plan to boost AI spending by 10% or more in 2026 despite mounting pressure for measurable business gains.
Key Points
- A majority of CIOs (74%) regret at least one major AI vendor decision from the past 18 months and fear their jobs are at risk if they cannot deliver measurable AI business gains within two years
- Despite widespread regret over AI investments, 60% of CFOs plan to increase AI spending by 10% or more in 2026, driven by a 'Return on the Future' mindset that prioritizes long-term strategic advantage over immediate returns
- Business leaders face mounting pressure to demonstrate AI ROI while measurement frameworks lag behind the rapidly evolving technology, with 62% of CIOs reporting direct CEO challenges to their AI decisions