74% of CEOs worry AI failures could cost them their jobs: Report – HRME

This post was originally published on this site.

Global CEOs are under mounting pressure to turn AI ambition into measurable business gains, or risk losing their jobs. According to the Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition by Dataiku, 74% of CEOs fear job loss within two years if they fail to deliver AI-driven results. Conducted by The Harris Poll, the study surveyed over 500 CEOs across the US, UK, France, and Germany, exposing a growing crisis in executive accountability and AI strategy execution.

AI-driven leadership shakeups on the horizon

• 70% of CEOs predict AI failures will lead to executive oustings this year, signaling an industry-wide shift in leadership expectations.
• 54% acknowledge that competitors already have more advanced AI strategies, increasing pressure to accelerate AI adoption.

AI’s expanding role in leadership and decision-makingThe report highlights a radical shift in corporate governance, with AI challenging traditional leadership structures:

• 94% of CEOs believe AI agents could provide equal or better counsel than human board members.
• 89% say AI can develop stronger strategic plans than at least one of their executive leaders.

The ‘AI commodity trap’ and governance failures

While CEOs recognise AI’s potential, many overlook critical risks:

• 87% assume off-the-shelf AI is as effective as custom-built solutions, risking poor execution in complex industries.
• 35% of AI initiatives are suspected to be ‘AI washing,’ where projects prioritise optics over actual business impact.
• 94% of CEOs believe employees use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney without company approval (“shadow AI”), exposing governance failures.

Regulatory uncertainty stalls AI adoption

• 80% of CEOs fear AI could harm employees, and 83% worry about unintended customer impact.
• 37% have delayed AI projects due to unclear regulations, while 32% have canceled initiatives altogether.

AI strategy now a defining factor in CEO and corporate survival

With 78% of CEOs prioritising AI as a core business goal for 2025, and 83% acknowledging AI’s impact on investor confidence, leadership now hinges on AI execution. Failure to deliver AI-driven results won’t just cost companies their competitive edge, it could cost CEOs their jobs.