· Dataiku/Harris Poll Survey of 500 International CEOs Unveils Startling Admissions on AI’s Impact on Leadership, Competitive Survival, and the Future of the C-Suite
· 70% of CEOs Believe a Failed AI Strategy or AI-Induced Crisis Will Result in a Fellow CEO Being Ousted by the End of 2025
· 94% of CEOs Admit an AI Agent Could Provide Equal or Better Counsel on Business Decisions Than a Human Board Member
· 89% of CEOs Feel AI Can Develop an Equal or Better Strategic Plan Than One of Their Executive Leaders
· 94% Of CEOs Suspect Employees Are Using GenAI Tools Without Company Approval, Exposing a Massive Governance Failure Within Organizations
March 12, 2025: 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 organizations 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 organizations.
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 prioritizing 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.
For the full “Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition,” visit https://pages.dataiku.com/global-ai-confessions-report/
