The numbers for the 2026 outlook are in, and the verdict from the C-suite is unanimous: AI isn’t a trend; it’s the new baseline for growth.
New data analyzing over 3,600 business leaders reveals a massive shift in how organizations are treating Artificial Intelligence. But if you look closely at the report, there is a glaring disconnect between the money being spent and the results being delivered.
Here is what founders and business leaders need to know about the state of AI adoption right now—and the trap you need to avoid.
The Mindset Shift: Growth Over Savings
For a long time, the pitch for AI was simple: it cuts costs. That narrative is dead.
According to the latest insights, 85% of executives now view AI primarily as a tool for revenue expansion rather than cost reduction. The goal isn’t just to do the same work cheaper; it’s to do entirely new things at scale.
In the insurance sector specifically, 90% of senior executives plan to increase their AI investment over the next 12 months. This signals that we are moving out of the “experimental” sandbox phase and into full-blown enterprise scale. In fact, one-third of companies are already rebuilding entire core processes around AI agents.
The Hidden Bottleneck: Your Team
While the checkbooks are open, the workforce is struggling to keep up. This is the critical insight for any business owner:
You cannot solve a workflow problem just by buying better software.
The data shows a worrying trend—employee usage of AI is actually dropping. Regular use has fallen by 10 percentage points since the summer of 2025. Why? Because while companies are redesigning processes, they aren’t redesigning job roles.
- The “Garbage In” Problem: 54% of employees report that low-quality AI outputs are actually killing productivity.
- The Training Gap: Fewer than 10% of organizations are restructuring roles to align with AI tools, leaving staff feeling unprepared and hesitant.
When your team doesn’t trust the data or the tool, they stop using it. The result is a high-tech company operating with low-tech efficiency.
The “Bubble” Won’t Stop the Spending
There is plenty of noise about an “AI Bubble” in the markets. Does this scare the smart money? Apparently not.
Confidence remains incredibly high. Nearly half (47%) of executives stated they would increase their AI spending even if the market bubble bursts. They recognize that market valuation doesn’t negate the operational utility of the technology. They are betting on the long-term competitive advantage, not short-term stock trends.
The Takeaway for 2026
If you are a founder or executive, your next move shouldn’t just be about budget allocation. The companies that win in 2026 won’t be the ones with the most advanced algorithms—they will be the ones who fix the human element.
Success now relies on data integrity and workforce alignment. If you want ROI, stop treating AI as a plug-and-play solution and start treating it as a cultural shift. Redesign the roles, not just the software.
