84% of CIOs See AI as Transformative, But Adoption Lags at 11%

A new Salesforce survey of 150 enterprise CIOs reveals that 84% believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be as transformative as the internet for businesses. However, only 11% of CIOs report full AI implementation due to challenges such as security concerns and data infrastructure limitations. The survey sheds light on the current state of enterprise AI adoption and the obstacles organizations face as they strive to implement AI strategies effectively.

CIOs feel mounting pressure to be AI experts, with 61% saying they are expected to know more about the technology than they currently do. Despite widespread recognition of AI’s potential, 67% of CIOs are approaching AI more cautiously compared to other technologies. Budget allocation also reflects this careful approach, with CIOs dedicating 20% of their budgets to data infrastructure compared to just 5% for AI initiatives.

While 77% of CIOs report strong executive support for AI, 68% believe business stakeholders have unrealistic expectations for quick returns on AI investments. Departments such as sales, marketing, and customer service claim to have fully adopted AI in their workflows, but much of this use is unsanctioned, introducing significant security risks as sensitive data is shared through unsecured tools. In contrast, CIOs, who oversee technical strategy and organization-wide implementation, report only 11% full adoption of AI.

CIOs are focusing on data preparation as a precursor to scaling AI across enterprises. Security concerns, a lack of trusted data, and the complexity of integrating high-quality, accessible data are key challenges. CIOs are currently allocating four times more budget to data-related initiatives than to AI, highlighting the foundational importance of clean and reliable data in driving AI success.

The report also reveals a mismatch between departments when it comes to AI readiness and enthusiasm. Customer service is seen as having the most potential use cases for AI but is often the least prepared for implementation, while marketing shows eagerness but lacks the necessary infrastructure and skills.

The rise of unsanctioned “shadow AI” adoption among employees underscores the urgency of implementing trusted, enterprise-grade tools. Many CIOs are turning to pilot projects to demonstrate AI’s potential and address internal skepticism. With 75% of CIOs describing their organizations as being in the experimental stage of AI adoption, a calculated and gradual approach is becoming the norm.

CIOs are also relying on peer collaboration to navigate the fast-evolving AI landscape. Despite the challenges, Salesforce CIO Juan Perez sees this as an opportunity for CIOs to share insights and build a stronger foundation for AI adoption. He states, “This is the perfect opportunity for CIOs to collaborate and navigate the AI revolution together.”

As enterprises tackle the hurdles of AI implementation, a strong focus on security, data readiness, and departmental alignment will be essential in unlocking AI’s transformative potential.