A staggering 74% of CEOs internationally admit they are at risk of losing their job within two years if they fail to deliver measurable AI-driven business gains, according to the newly released “Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition” by Dataiku, the Universal AI Platform. The study, conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku, exposes the candid admissions and revelations of global chief executives as they face a new reality: AI strategy has become the defining factor in corporate survival.
The findings underscore an unprecedented shift in executive accountability, as 70% of CEOs predict that by the end of the year, at least one of their peers will be ousted due to a failed AI strategy or AI-induced crisis. Meanwhile, more than half of CEOs (54%) admit that a competitor has already deployed a superior AI strategy, highlighting the urgency for organisations to move beyond AI ambition into tangible execution.
AI vs. BoD and executive leadership: A growing power struggle?
The report also signals a radical redefinition of corporate leadership, as AI increasingly challenges the role of decision-making. Key findings include:
- 94% of CEOs admit that an AI agent could provide equal or better counsel on business decisions than a human board member.
- 89% of CEOs believe AI can develop an equal or better strategic plan than one or more of their executive leaders, a cohort defined as VP to C-suite.
As AI’s influence expands, it’s not just reshaping strategy — it’s challenging the very foundation of corporate leadership, forcing CEOs to reconsider who, or what, will make the most critical decisions in the future.
The “AI Commodity Trap” and AI washing: CEO blind spots
Despite their growing reliance on AI, many CEOs remain dangerously unaware of the pitfalls of poorly executed AI strategies.
- 87% of CEOs fall into the “AI commodity trap,” expressing confidence that off-the-shelf AI agents can be just as effective as custom-built solutions for highly nuanced vertical or domain-specific business applications.
- 35% of AI initiatives are suspected to be “AI washing” — designed more for optics than real business impact.
- 94% of CEOs suspect employees are using GenAI tools — such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney — without company approval (known as “shadow AI”), exposing a massive governance failure within organisations.
AI governance and regulatory uncertainty: Delays and cancellations on the rise
While AI adoption accelerates, poor governance and regulatory uncertainty are creating significant roadblocks:
- Eight-in-ten CEOs expressed concern that AI deployments could inadvertently harm their employees (80%) or their customers (83%), underscoring a lack of confidence in execution and control.
- One-in-three (37%) CEOs admit their AI projects have been delayed due to regulatory uncertainty.
- 32% of CEOs admit their AI projects have been canceled or abandoned due to regulatory uncertainty.
“For CEOs today, every AI decision feels like a high-stakes gamble that can drive competitive dominance or lead to costly consequences,” explained Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku. “The only way to turn AI into an enduring advantage is to assert greater control and governance — future-proofing not just the companies these CEOs run, but their own roles as leaders in an increasingly AI-powered economy.”
AI: The defining factor for CEO and company survival
With 78% of CEOs prioritising AI strategy as a core business goal for 2025 and 83% acknowledging AI’s impact on investor confidence, the message is clear — CEOs must turn AI intent into measurable impact, or risk becoming a cautionary tale in the next inevitable wave of executive turnover.
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