Stressed, anxious, excited – CIOs’ state of mind in 2024

60% of global respondents say their focus on AI has boosted their personal reputation.

  • Sunday, 22nd September 2024 Posted 8 months ago in by Phil Alsop

Technology leaders from large global enterprises are feeling the pressure as AI becomes a major force of innovation and disruption, according to the IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Expereo, Enterprise Horizons 2024: Technology Leaders’ Priorities on Their Digital Business Journey*, which reveals that 64% of global respondents find it challenging and/or stressful to meet the technology demands of the business, and that AI is a key source of both pressure and opportunity.

The paper reveals that AI has raised the profile and expectations of technology leaders at board level – a double-edged sword for many senior technology decision-makers. While 60% of global respondents say their focus on AI has boosted their personal reputation, 47% also say their board has unrealistic demands regarding the impact of AI on international business performance and 39% felt their job is more stressful or negative because of their added profile.

The perceived impact of AI on the workforce, both within and outside of IT, could be partly causing this ‘AI-anxiety’. While the emergence of a Chief AI Officer role could bring businesses new opportunities, 40% of technology leaders say a CAIO role will take over much of the CIO’s responsibilities within two years, and 38% of them are worried that AI could replace their or their team’s role. Moreover, 46% of global respondents believe increased automation will also result in some roles outside of IT being displaced.

CIOs remain excited, despite challenges

However, technology leaders are also excited about the pace of technology innovation. The survey shows that 68% of global respondents say this is the most exciting time to be a technology leader, and 71% of them are confident that they or their team can support growth and efficiency gains through their current technology strategy.

The survey also shows that technology leaders are expected to contribute to various aspects of the business, such as growth, risk management, and IT modernization, but their role will become even more demanding in the next two years, as they will have to orchestrate digital transformation and generate digital revenue. For instance, only 7% of global respondents say they have to demonstrate ROI to the board to justify budget increases today, but this number will increase to 12% in two years' time.

Ben Elms, Chief Executive Officer at Expereo, says: “Technology leaders are at the forefront of driving innovation and transformation in their organizations, but they also face significant challenges and pressures from the business and the board.”

Elms continued: “It’s vital that CIOs align with their CEOs to ensure they are given the proper support by their stakeholders, teams and their external partners, to help them make the most of a challenging but exciting technology landscape.”

Technical debt stifling path to AI adoption

Posted 7 hours ago by Phil Alsop
Outdated legacy technologies costing organizations the ability to innovate, money, time – and, potentially, even customers.
Data from ‘Unlocking Growth in the Mid-Market: The Node4 Report’, reveals UK mid-market leaders are taking a more pragmatic approach to public...
According to research unveiled today, one in five CIOs and CTOs at enterprise companies (21%) believe that their organisations’ road to digital...
76% of financial services firms surveyed plan to implement agentic AI within the next year.

Why most businesses aren’t yet winning with AI

Posted 4 days ago by Phil Alsop
71% of business leaders say their workforces are not ready to successfully leverage AI.
Five9 has released its 2025 Business Leaders Customer Experience Report offering analysis of CX trends shaping how global business leaders create...
Delinea has unveiled new research highlighting how ransomware attacks have continued to surge over the past year, despite fewer victims paying. Over...
96% of tech professionals view AI agents as a growing security risk, yet 98% of organisations plan to expand adoption.