CFO Slice

Chief information officers are facing mounting pressure from boards and investors to demonstrate measurable returns on artificial intelligence investments, or risk budget cuts and potential career consequences, according to a survey of 600 CIOs commissioned by Dataiku. The report found 98% of respondents say board pressure to show clear AI return on investment is increasing, with 71% expecting funding freezes or reductions if targets are not met by mid-2026. Meanwhile, 85% believe compensation — including their own — will soon be tied directly to AI performance outcomes. Concerns extend beyond ROI. Nearly a third of CIOs said they had been asked to justify AI decisions they could not fully explain, and 70% expect formal audit or explainability requirements within the next year. At the same time, “agentic AI” systems capable of taking autonomous actions are already embedded in critical workflows, with 25% of respondents saying such agents now form the backbone of key operations — despite three-quarters admitting they lack full real-time visibility over them.