74% of CEOs admit they could lose their job in 2 years if they don't deliver AI business gains

Tahawul Tech

13-03-2025

A staggering 74% of CEOs internationally admit they are at risk of losing their job within two years if they fail to deliver measurable AI-driven business gains, according to the newly released 'Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition' by Dataiku, the Universal AI Platform.
The study, conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku, exposes the candid admissions and revelations of global chief executives as they face a new reality: AI strategy has become the defining factor in corporate survival.
The findings underscore an unprecedented shift in executive accountability, as 70% of CEOs predict that by the end of the year, at least one of their peers will be ousted due to a failed AI strategy or AI-induced crisis. Meanwhile, more than half of CEOs (54%) admit that a competitor has already deployed a superior AI strategy, highlighting the urgency for organisations to move beyond AI ambition into tangible execution.
AI vs. BoD and Executive Leadership: A Growing Power Struggle?
The report also signals a radical redefinition of corporate leadership, as AI increasingly challenges the role of decision-making. Key findings include:
94% of CEOs admit that an AI agent could provide equal or better counsel on business decisions than a human board member.
89% of CEOs believe AI can develop an equal or better strategic plan than one or more of their executive leaders, a cohort defined as VP to C-suite.
As AI's influence expands, it's not just reshaping strategy — it's challenging the very foundation of corporate leadership, forcing CEOs to reconsider who, or what, will make the most critical decisions in the future.
The 'AI Commodity Trap' and AI Washing: CEO Blind Spots
Despite their growing reliance on AI, many CEOs remain dangerously unaware of the pitfalls of poorly executed AI strategies.
87% of CEOs fall into the 'AI commodity trap,' expressing confidence that off-the-shelf AI agents can be just as effective as custom-built solutions for highly nuanced vertical or domain-specific business applications.
35% of AI initiatives are suspected to be 'AI washing' — designed more for optics than real business impact.
94% of CEOs suspect employees are using GenAI tools — such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney — without company approval (known as 'shadow AI'), exposing a massive governance failure within organisations.
AI Governance and Regulatory Uncertainty: Delays and Cancellations on the Rise
While AI adoption accelerates, poor governance and regulatory uncertainty are creating significant roadblocks:
Eight-in-ten CEOs expressed concern that AI deployments could inadvertently harm their employees (80%) or their customers (83%), underscoring a lack of confidence in execution and control.
(80%) or (83%), underscoring a lack of confidence in execution and control. One-in-three (37%) CEOs admit their AI projects have been delayed due to regulatory uncertainty.
32% of CEOs admit their AI projects have been cancelled or abandoned due to regulatory uncertainty.
'For CEOs today, every AI decision feels like a high-stakes gamble that can drive competitive dominance or lead to costly consequences', explained Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku. 'The only way to turn AI into an enduring advantage is to assert greater control and governance — future-proofing not just the companies these CEOs run, but their own roles as leaders in an increasingly AI-powered economy'.
AI: The Defining Factor for CEO and Company Survival
With 78% of CEOs prioritising AI strategy as a core business goal for 2025 and 83% acknowledging AI's impact on investor confidence, the message is clear — CEOs must turn AI intent into measurable impact, or risk becoming a cautionary tale in the next inevitable wave of executive turnover.
For the full 'Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition,' visit https://pages.dataiku.com/global-ai-confessions-report/
Image Credit: Dataiku