London, November 17, 2025 – New research from the diginomica network reveals the challenges facing enterprise organizations in adopting artificial intelligence (AI). The report, based on intimate discussions with 35 CIOs and CTOs from major global companies, highlights a disconnect between expectations and reality when it comes to AI’s return on investment.
According to the research, 93% of diginomica network members have implemented AI in their organizations, with use cases ranging from website chatbots to predictive algorithms and drug discovery. However, despite the widespread use of AI, high-profile implementations, such as Microsoft Copilot and automated bid tools, have failed to meet the elevated expectations set by boards and executive teams.
The report, which offers verifiable, first-hand perspectives from an exclusive community representing billions in technology spend, uncovers key findings:
– Over three quarters of organizations report AI success rates exceeding 50%, but technology leaders consistently highlight that AI has not met the expectations placed upon it by boards and executives.
– The rapid pace of AI advancement poses a unique challenge, as proof of concepts that failed nine months ago are now viable. This makes it difficult for CIOs to manage stakeholder expectations and maintain trust.
– Data quality and change management, rather than technology, are the primary barriers to realizing AI’s full potential. Organizations are capturing as little as 10% of potential benefits due to poor adoption strategies.
Ian Cohen, a highly experienced CIO who has led technology at Lloyds, the Financial Times, and Addison Lee, emphasizes the need for CIOs to manage the hype surrounding AI and provide a realistic perspective to business leaders. He states, “It is our job to temper that enthusiasm with a healthy dose of reality.”
The report identifies several critical barriers to successful AI adoption, including poor data quality, insufficient change management, legacy system constraints, and a fundamental misunderstanding of AI capabilities across the C-suite. The confusion between different AI technologies, such as agentic AI, generative AI, and robotics, is also highlighted.
The research stresses the importance of proper change management strategies and warns against treating it as an afterthought. Without effective adoption strategies, organizations risk repeating past technology implementation failures. Cohen cautions, “We risk the same happening with AI if we do not properly drive education and adoption.”
Mark Chillingworth, author of the research and diginomica network facilitator, thanks the community of CIOs and CTOs for sharing their experiences and providing valuable insights.
The full report, “CIOs navigate AI’s weight of expectation and explore opportunities,” can be downloaded here.
About diginomica
diginomica is an independent media and analyst property that caters to enterprise leaders in the digital era. With a team of experienced writers and analysts based in the US and Europe, diginomica delivers authoritative reporting and analysis that separates signal from noise. Unlike traditional advertising-driven media, diginomica focuses on reader quality, engagement, and influence, providing rich insights based on daily contact with both technology buyers and vendors. diginomica is committed to responsible use of generative AI in journalism and prioritizes reader experience, accessibility, and trust. For more information, visit diginomica.com or contact Derek@diginomica.com.
About diginomica network
The diginomica network is an invitation-only forum of more than 400 CIOs and CTOs from leading global organizations. The network provides a trusted space for technology leaders to confidentially discuss strategic technology challenges. Away from vendor influence, the network facilitates peer-to-peer learning and collaboration among enterprise technology leadership.
– ENDS –