According to a recent study published in the Harvard Business Review, 98.4% of organizations plan to increase investment in AI and data-driven strategies by 2025.

According to the survey, conducted by Data & AI Leadership Exchange in partnership with DataIQ, 90.5% of respondents ranked AI and data as their top business priority this year, an increase from 87.9% in 2024.

Randy Bean, co-author of the report, wrote: "While many organizations have long struggled to capture value from their data initiatives, the transformation over the past two years has been particularly dramatic - GenAI has sparked greater interest and investment in data quality and broader data capabilities. These organizations are redoubling their efforts to make sure the data is accurate."

The report provides six key insights into AI investment and organizational challenges in 2025.

1. Significant benefits of AI investment

The findings suggest that investments in AI are already delivering measurable benefits. 93.7 percent of Fortune 1000 companies say their AI initiatives are already delivering significant business value. The organizations cited key outcomes such as improved customer acquisition and retention, increased customer satisfaction, and increased productivity and revenue.

Of the organizations that have received a return, 18.1 percent claim to have achieved a high level of measurable value, 28.3 percent have achieved a rapid increase in earnings, and 32.3 percent claim to have achieved a modest but steady increase in returns.

2. AI implementation is still in its early stages

While most organizations plan to invest, they are still in the early stages of AI implementation. The survey shows that 76.1% of the organizations are in the test, experimental or limited production stage. Of course, 23.9% of organizations have already extended AI applications to full production, up from 4.9% in 2024 and nearly 500% year-over-year.

3. Corporate culture is a barrier to AI adoption

Corporate culture will continue to be a barrier to AI adoption. 91.2% of respondents cited cultural resistance as a bigger obstacle than technological challenges. Progress toward building an AI-driven culture remains limited, with only 32.5 percent of Fortune 1000 companies claiming to have achieved this goal, compared to 24.4 percent five years ago.

4. Responsible AI practices are in the spotlight

The study highlights the growing focus on responsible AI practices, particularly its governance and safeguards. 77.6 percent of organizations have implemented frameworks to ensure the ethical use of AI, up from 62.9 percent in 2024. Concerns about risks such as misinformation and disinformation remain widespread, with 53.2 percent of organizations mentioning these issues, compared to 44.3 percent last year.

5. Talent shortage has become a major challenge

Talent shortages are another major challenge facing face-to-face organizations. Some 43.5% of organizations reported difficulties in recruiting professionals who can effectively manage and sustain responsible AI programs. These findings further highlight the complexities faced in establishing and maintaining sound AI governance.

6. AI and data leadership roles are becoming more prominent

AI and data leadership roles are gaining prominence within organizations. According to the survey, 84.3 percent of organizations now have a Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO), a significant increase from 12 percent in 2012. In addition, 33.1 percent of organizations already have a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO), and another 43.9 percent intend to create this executive role.

However, organizations still face challenges in retaining leaders in these key positions. More than half (52.4 per cent) of organisations reported staff mobility issues, while 77.8 per cent noted that the average tenure of these positions was less than three years. Despite these issues, 70.8 percent of organizations now view AI and data leaders as indispensable executive positions, and 36.3 percent of such leaders report directly to corporate executives such as the CEO or COO.