A Third of Global CIOs Warn of Unrealistic Board Expectations as The World Bets Big on AI, According to Expereo
Article content
LONDON — A third of global technology leaders believe their board has unrealistic expectations or demands on how new technologies like AI will impact business performance. This is according to an IDC InfoBrief*, commissioned by Expereo, which highlights serious roadblocks to global AI implementation, despite AI being considered critical to fulfilling business priorities.
Article content
The research of 650 technology leaders in global organizations across Europe, the US and APAC reveals that 34% of global technology leaders have been forced to reassess their technology infrastructure because of rising geopolitical risks, as 37% say geopolitical disruptions are currently impacting their organization's growth strategies.
Article content
Amid the volatile economic backdrop, it seems most organizations are placing their bets on AI to drive growth. The research shows that 87% of business leaders believe AI will be important to fulfilling business priorities in the next 12 months.
Article content
The IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Expereo, 'Enterprise Horizons 2025: Technology Leaders Priorities: Achieving Digital Agility', reveals that AI has largely met or exceeded expectations to date, with only 12% of global businesses saying AI has fallen short of expectations. Global tech leaders agree that AI will positively impact business, particularly customer-facing activities and costs (both at 66%). However, unrealistic board expectations could throw organizations' AI plans into chaos, as 28% of global technology executives say expectations within their organization of what AI can do are growing faster than their ability to meet them.
Article content
Ben Elms, CEO, Expereo, comments: 'As global businesses embrace AI to transform employee and customer experience, setting realistic goals and aligning expectations will be critical to ensuring that AI delivers long-term value, rather than being viewed as a quick fix. While the potential of AI is immense, its successful integration requires careful planning. Technology leaders must recognize the need for robust networks and connectivity infrastructure to support AI at scale, while also ensuring consistent performance across these networks. We are at a pivotal moment where strategic investments in technology and IT infrastructure are necessary to meet both current and future demands.'
Article content
The research paints a positive picture for the promise of AI, but only if businesses can overcome existing challenges. The majority (52%) of organizations say their network/connectivity infrastructure is not ready to support new technology initiatives, such as AI. A further 45% say their network performance is preventing or limiting their organization's networks from supporting large data/AI projects (up from 38% in 2024).
Article content
42% of global businesses also say concerns over AI governance or ethics remain a significant obstacle to implementing AI initiatives in their organization, followed by resistance from employees regarding their jobs (35%), and keeping up with the pace of change (34%).
Article content
Meanwhile, 29% of global businesses say current external technology partners not having the right capabilities remains a significant obstacle to implementing AI initiatives in their organization.
Article content
Despite these challenges, 79% of global technology leaders believe the focus on AI has raised their profile at the board level, up from 60% in 2024.
Article content
Expereo is a world-leading Managed Network as a Service provider that connects people, places, and things anywhere. Solutions include Global Internet, SD-WAN/SASE, and Enhanced Internet. With an extensive global reach, Expereo is the trusted partner of 60% of Fortune 500 companies. It powers enterprise and government sites in more than 190 countries, with the ability to connect to any location worldwide, working with over 2,300 partners to help customers improve productivity and empowering their networks and cloud services with the agility, flexibility, and value of the Internet, with optimal network performance.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
14 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
2 Stocks to Buy From the Challenging Semiconductor Industry
The Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry is suffering from macroeconomic challenges, end-market volatility, broad-based inventory correction and growing geopolitical tensions. Tariffs on trade partners, including China, are expected to hurt the industry's prospects. However, industry players are benefiting from the growing proliferation of AI, Generative AI (Gen AI), IoT, Machine Learning (ML) and industrial revolution 4.0 (which focuses on interconnectivity and automation). These have turned out to be boons for industry players like Broadcom AVGO and Applied Materials AMAT. Increasing demand for AI-supportive chips from hyperscalers is a major growth driver. The growing demand for high-volume consumer electronic devices, including digital media players, smartphones, tablets, efficient packaging, machine vision solutions and robotics, should continue to drive the industry's growth. Industry Description The Zacks Electronics – Semiconductors industry comprises companies that provide a wide range of semiconductor technologies. Their offerings include packaging and test services, wafer cleaning, factory automation, face detection and image-recognition capabilities to develop smart and connected products. The industry participants primarily cater to end markets that include consumer electronics, communications, computing, industrial and automotive. The companies are increasing their spending on research and development to stay afloat in an era of technological advancements and changing industry standards. The industry is experiencing solid demand for advanced electronic equipment, which is helping its participants increase their investments in cost-effective process technologies. What's Shaping the Future of the Electronics - Semiconductors Industry? AI Demand Driving Prospects: Industry participants are benefiting from growing demand for advanced manufacturing processes and energy-efficient computing power, both of which are needed to develop AI-supportive chips. AI is gaining popularity thanks to multimodal learning and growing context awareness. The emergence of Gen AI and Agentic AI has further enhanced AI's capabilities, making it a key driver of efficiency, automation and innovation. Significant improvements in computing hardware (GPUs and TPUs) are allowing the development of more complex AI models. The growing number of high-speed data centers worldwide, which require ultra-fast Internet that 5G promises to deliver, is a tailwind. Increased connectivity and use of technology in consumer electronics through IoT, AI, robotics, AR/VR and others further set the momentum for 5G. Smart Devices Aiding Computing Demand: Smart devices need computing and learning capabilities to perform functions like face detection, image recognition and video analytics capabilities. These require high levels of processing power, speed and memory and low power consumption, as well as better graphics processors and solutions, which bode well for the industry. Graphic solutions help increase the speed of rendering images and improve image resolution and color definition. Prospects Around Advanced Packaging Robust: The increasing demand for miniaturization, greater functionality, lower power consumption, and improved thermal and electrical performance are driving the demand for semiconductor packaging and test technologies. The growing requirement for advanced packaging is gaining traction in the semiconductor industry, which is a key catalyst for industry participants. Complex Process Drives Demand: The requirement for faster, more powerful and energy-efficient semiconductors is expected to increase rapidly with the robust adoption of cloud computing, IoT and AI. Semiconductor manufacturers are primarily looking to maximize manufacturing yields at lower costs, making semiconductor manufacturing processes more complex and driving the demand for solutions offered by industry participants. The rapid adoption of IoT-supported factory automation solutions is another contributing factor. Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dim Prospects The Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #182, which places it in the bottom 25% of more than 250 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bearish near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. The industry's positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are optimistic about this group's earnings growth potential. Since April 30, 2025, the industry's earnings estimates for the current year have moved down 3.6%. Given the bearish prospects, there are only a few stocks that you can consider for your portfolio. However, before we present the stocks, let us look at the industry's recent stock-market performance and valuation picture. Industry Outperforms S&P 500 & Sector The Zacks Electronics - Semiconductors industry has outperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and surpassed the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector in the past year. The industry has appreciated 51.5% over this period compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's return of 29.1% and the S&P 500's appreciation of 20.3%. One-Year Price Performance Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing electronics semiconductor stocks, the industry is currently trading at 34.32X versus the S&P 500 and the sector's 22.69X and 28.15X, respectively. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 34.32X and as low as 11.05X, with the median being 19.7X, as the charts below show. Forward 12-Month Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio 2 Electronics Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Broadcom: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is benefiting from strong momentum fueled by growth in AI semiconductors and continued success with its VMware integration. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Strong demand for Broadcom's networking products and custom AI accelerators (XPUs) has been noteworthy. AVGO's AI segment benefits from custom accelerators and advanced networking technology that support large-scale AI deployments with improved performance and efficiency. Broadcom expects third-quarter fiscal 2025 AI revenues to jump 60% year over year to $5.1 billion. The acquisition of VMware has benefited Infrastructure software solutions. As of the fiscal second quarter, roughly 87% of Broadcom's largest 10,000 customers have adopted VMware Cloud Foundation. Broadcom stock has appreciated 31% year to date (YTD). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVGO's fiscal 2025 earnings has been steady at $6.63 per share over the past 60 days. Price & Consensus: AVGO Applied Materials: Another Zacks Rank #2 stock, AMAT is benefiting from strength in the Semiconductor Systems, owing to a rebound in the semiconductor industry, particularly in the foundry logic space. Solid momentum in the subscription and display businesses is a plus for Applied Materials. The company's strong position in IoT, Communications, Auto, Power and Sensors (ICAPS) has helped it gain market share. AMAT's diversified portfolio remains its key growth driver. Applied Materials has appreciated 16.2% YTD. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMAT's fiscal 2025 earnings has declined by a penny to $9.46 per share over the past 30 days. Price & Consensus: AMAT Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Broadcom Inc. (AVGO): Free Stock Analysis Report Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Alibaba vs. Microsoft: Which Cloud Stock to Buy on Better AI Upside?
Alibaba Group BABA and Microsoft MSFT represent two divergent paths in the global cloud and AI race. While Microsoft dominates Western enterprise computing through Azure and its OpenAI partnership, Alibaba maintains leadership in China's cloud market despite mounting challenges. Both companies have made massive AI commitments that will define their trajectories for years to come. Recent data from Synergy shows Microsoft achieved a 20% share of the global cloud market in second-quarter 2025, while Alibaba won 4% share. The timing for this comparison is critical as generative AI transforms cloud computing economics. Microsoft recently became the second company to surpass $4 trillion in market value following explosive Azure growth, while Alibaba announced a historic $53 billion infrastructure investment even as its stock languishes near decade lows. Let's delve deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now. The Case for BABA Stock Alibaba's ambitious $53 billion cloud and AI infrastructure commitment over three years exceeds its entire past decade of spending, signaling management's recognition that survival depends on AI competitiveness. The company's cloud segment showed tentative recovery with revenues excluding consolidated subsidiaries growing 17% year over year in the fiscal fourth quarter, while AI-related products maintained triple-digit growth for five consecutive quarters. Recent launches, including Qwen-Max, QwQ-Plus reasoning model, and QVQ-Max visual processing, demonstrate technical capabilities, with management claiming performance matching Western rivals. However, these positives cannot mask deepening structural problems. Cloud growth remains sluggish compared to global peers, with public cloud revenues achieving only modest double-digit expansion while Microsoft's Azure rockets at 39%. The pivot toward high-quality revenues disguises market share losses and monetization failures. More troublingly, Alibaba canceled its cloud unit IPO, citing U.S. chip restrictions, exposing critical vulnerability to escalating technology sanctions that could cripple AI ambitions. The company's financial deterioration accelerates despite heavy investment. Free cash flow collapsed 70% year over year due to infrastructure spending and merchant refunds, while adjusted EBITDA declined 5% even as revenues grew. Core e-commerce faces margin compression with customer management revenues crawling at 1% growth. Chinese regulatory uncertainty persists as authorities maintain unpredictable intervention patterns. Alibaba confronts a combination of geopolitical hostility, competitive displacement, and strategic confusion that renders its AI investments potentially worthless. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a downward revision of 10.9% over the past 30 days to $8.58 per share. The market appears to be pessimistic about Alibaba's growth trajectory. The Case for MSFT Stock Microsoft's unprecedented AI momentum validates its position as the definitive platform for enterprise transformation. Azure's remarkable 39% growth, reaching $75 billion annual revenues in the fiscal fourth quarter, demonstrates explosive adoption as organizations embrace AI capabilities at scale. The exclusive OpenAI partnership provides unmatched access to frontier models, while Azure AI Foundry's general availability supporting 1,900+ models establishes Microsoft as the comprehensive AI development ecosystem. Infrastructure leadership through first-to-market Nvidia GB200 deployment, achieving 865,000 tokens per second throughput, creates insurmountable competitive advantages. AI integration across Microsoft's portfolio multiplies growth vectors and deepens competitive moats. GitHub Copilot's evolution to autonomous coding agents, accelerating Microsoft 365 Copilot enterprise adoption, and Dynamics 365 AI enhancements drove commercial bookings past $100 billion. With remaining performance obligations hitting $368 billion, up 37% year over year, Microsoft enjoys extraordinary revenue visibility. The company's execution excellence shows in delivering 18% revenue growth to $76.4 billion while expanding operating margins to 44.9%, demonstrating pricing power that will persist as AI becomes mission-critical. Strategic advantages compound Microsoft's dominance. Leadership in multi-agent orchestration through Copilot Studio, pioneering enterprise AI governance via Entra Agent ID, and establishing industry standards with Model Context Protocol cement architectural control. Azure's 70+ region presence, each AI-optimized with liquid cooling, provides unmatched global scale. Revolutionary services like autonomous SRE Agents and Project Amelie automated ML pipelines position Microsoft years ahead. Microsoft offers unparalleled exposure to AI's transformative potential backed by proven execution and accelerating adoption. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Microsoft's fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $15.32 per share, indicating an upward revision of 2.3% over the past 30 days Valuation and Price Performance Comparison Both stocks carry premium valuations but for opposite reasons. Microsoft's 33.42x forward P/E and 11.92x sales multiple reflect justified confidence in sustained growth, with the stock reaching record highs above $550. Alibaba stock is trading at a 12.92x P/E, masking fundamental deterioration. BABA vs. MSFT: P/E F12M Ratio While Microsoft consistently achieves new highs, Alibaba stock has declined 9.3% over the past three months compared with Microsoft's 15.8% growth. BABA Underperforms MSFT in 3-Month Period Conclusion Microsoft decisively wins this comparison through superior AI execution, dominant positioning, and accelerating momentum. Azure's 39% growth crushes Alibaba's 6% expansion while Microsoft's proven AI monetization contrasts with Alibaba's struggling unit economics. Geographic advantages, regulatory stability, and enterprise trust create sustainable competitive moats that Alibaba cannot overcome despite massive spending. Microsoft's premium valuation reflects genuine growth while Alibaba's discount signals existential risks. Investors should buy Microsoft to capture AI's generational opportunity and sell Alibaba to avoid deteriorating fundamentals, regulatory uncertainty, and strategic displacement threatening permanent capital impairment. MSFT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), whereas Alibaba has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. See our %%CTA_TEXT%% report – free today! 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Free Stock Analysis Report
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Coupler.io MCP Pioneers as a Trusted Claude Desktop Extension for Conversational Data Analysis
The analytics platform introduced seamless natural language data analysis through official Claude integration, becoming a game-changer in data interpretation for business teams. a data integration and analytics platform, announced that its Model Context Protocol (MCP) was listed as a trusted extension in Claude Desktop, marking a unique contribution to business analytics solutions in Anthropic's official extensions marketplace. This solution lets businesses connect their multi-source data flows directly to Claude AI, enabling instant natural language data queries and transforming complex data operations into simple conversations. With MCP, business owners and professionals in different teams (marketing, sales, product, finance, operations, etc.) can easily access their data flows through simple questions, not needing special SQL, data analysis, tech, or coding skills. Besides, this solution serves as a personal AI analyst by eliminating the need for time-consuming research, manual data preparation, or copying and pasting extensive data sets into Claude. "Going through your data sources manually has always been a bottleneck in business intelligence workflows,' said Nika Tamaio Flores, Product Lead at "Non-tech teams wasted hours parsing through data sets or waiting for a data analyst's availability. MCP paired with Claude makes this friction go away, empowering users to get the data they need as easily as texting." Users can now discover and implement MCP Server directly through Claude's interface, streamlining the path from data complexity to actionable insights. After a quick and easy one-time setup, business teams can leverage the potential of MCP and its specific integrations, like Facebook Ads MCP, HubSpot MCP, QuickBooks MCP, Google Analytics MCP, and many more. Users can request interpretations, summaries, trend and performance analysis, strategic recommendations, and action plans based on their data from PPC and social media campaigns, SEO, accounting and project management software, CRM systems, etc. Claude can even create reports or dashboards from the data on request. This way, professionals get real-time, comprehensive business intelligence, which early adopters have already praised. "The response from early users has been remarkable," added Tamaio. "Instead of spending hours preparing data for analysis, teams now simply reference their data flow ID and begin asking questions immediately. Claude can identify top performers, spot underperforming areas, and even suggest improvement strategies based on real-time data patterns.' This extension operates on a read-only basis to ensure that business data remains unaltered, while Antrophic's ethical use of AI guarantees the security and privacy of users' data. The Claude Desktop integration supports Windows, Mac, and Linux ecosystems, ensuring seamless data access and operation across hundreds of apps and platforms. also announced that it will soon introduce its MCP integration to ChatGPT to maintain its position as the leading no-code business analytics solution in the AI ecosystem. About is a no-code reporting automation and data analytics platform. It allows collecting, organizing, transforming, and visualizing business data to make informed decisions. For more information about and the MCP server, visit Media Contact Company Name: Contact Person: Dmytro Zaichenko Email: Send Email Country: United States Website:
