Over the course of the past several decades, companies have regularly struggled to capture and integrate data into their decision-making. Despite protracted efforts, the results have been decidedly mixed, as prognostication efforts yielded tepid results at best. For example, last year, just 37% of companies reported that efforts to improve data quality had been successful. However, with the recent advent of AI and its advanced capabilities, something significant has changed. Generative AI has spurred greater interest and investment in data quality and broader data capabilities. After all, great AI relies on great data. Gone are the days when executives dismissed investments in initiatives like these as “just another data project.” 

Now, to succeed with AI, companies are doubling down on finally getting data right. Such is the principal finding of the 2025 AI & Data Leadership Executive Survey, an industry benchmark survey of Fortune 1000 and global business leaders that I first launched in 2012.

Here are the big takeaways from this year’s report.

Corporate investments in AI and data are growing.

First and perhaps most obvious, given the circumstances, this year’s survey found that overall investments in corporate AI and data initiatives are rising almost universally. In tandem with these findings, a growing percentage of organizations also reported that AI and data were top priorities for their business as they attempt to grow and prosper in the modern marketplace. 98.4% said they were increasing investments in AI and data, up from 82.2% last year. In addition, 90.5% say that AI and data investments are a top priority, up from 87.9%.

Organizations are reporting business value from their AI investments.

While AI initiatives are still at an early stage for most Fortune 1000 companies, 93.7% report that they’ve seen some business value from their AI investment. This means that the results of this survey could look all the more beneficial and kind toward AI’s role in business come next year. Enterprises are seeing quantifiable results through their use of AI, which can be measured by metrics including increased customer acquisition and retention, improved customer satisfaction, and revenue and productivity improvements. While there is a range in how much that return is, there’s a common acceleration trend. Of these companies, 18.1% report a high measurable business value, and 28.3% report rapidly increasing business value. 

Organizations are focusing on responsible AI, safeguards, and guardrails.

Responsible AI (a term encompassing AI ethics, governance, and other risk-mitigation programs) is an increasing priority for most organizations. They focus on establishing safeguards and guardrails to ensure responsible AI utilization. This year, 77.6% of organizations report implementing responsible AI safeguards and guardrails, up from 62.9% last year.

Organizations are hiring chief AI officers as AI and data leadership roles evolve.

This year’s survey also captured some significant changes. Chief among them is the need for AI and data leadership to be implemented into the leading forces of business. 84.3% of companies have hired a chief data and analytics officer, up from just 12.0% when the survey was first launched in 2012. This year marked the appearance of the chief AI officer as a rapidly emerging role, with 33.1% reporting filling this role and 43.9% saying that a chief AI officer should be appointed to their organization. 

AI and data leaders are joining the C-suite to drive business goals.

Even as organizations struggle with AI and data leadership roles, there is good news to be found. An increasing percentage of companies (70.8%) see these roles as becoming permanent C-suite roles. A growing percentage of AI and data leaders (36.3%) now report to their organization’s most senior business leadership: the CEO, president, or COO. 

This year’s survey teaches us that although business transformation tends to unfold over time, there are moments when dynamic changes and transformation accelerate. If the record number of survey respondents from the world’s largest companies are to be taken at their word, the results show a snapshot of a moment in progress where the future is literally unfolding before our eyes.