Global Corporate Survey 2025: AI Budgets, Priorities And Tech Preferences

Report
Digital Transformation Leaders
Aleksander Milligan
Aleksander Milligan
Chris Sayers
Chris Sayers
22 Oct, 2025

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Executive Summary

This report helps heads of AI, and C-Level individuals, benchmark their firms’ budgets, investment priorities and technology preferences relative to their global peer group. The data collected through the Verdantix survey also support strategic decision-making and business planning by executives at AI and enterprise consulting and technology providers. The 2025 Verdantix AI global corporate survey is our most comprehensive yet, spanning 38 countries and 29 industries. Survey respondents comprised 352 senior executives within dedicated IT and AI functions. Insights show a dramatic slowdown in AI budget increases from the previous year, signalling that AI has reached a stage in maturity where buyers are demanding tangible returns on investment. This has led to a greater emphasis on establishing AI data and governance foundations, bolstering AI talent and leveraging AI within the highest-value use cases.
Summary for decision-makers
Survey reveals AI priorities of IT executives
Survey features the perspectives of 352 executives across the globe, serving multiple industries
Enterprise AI strategies have shifted from experimentation to value creation
AI budgets are plateauing as firms refocus on value generation over explorative projects
Enterprise AI strategies are concerned with security and scalability, not with trailblazing
Gaps in AI governance and risk management present major exposure for firms wishing to embed AI
Corporate priorities are centred on applied AI and operationalizing use cases at scale
AI is already embedded across the enterprise ecosystem, but further integration depends on stronger trust
Firms are sceptical of the effectiveness and real-world use of AI, but that is not slowing integration
AI agents are already in use, but are not yet revolutionizing workflows
AI cost is a major sticking point throughout procurement processes, highlighting the need for defensible ROI
Figure 1. Survey respondents: geographical breakdown
Figure 2. Survey respondents: industry breakdown
Figure 3. AI budgets for 2026
Figure 4. Barriers to corporate adoption
Figure 5. Level of AI ambition for firms
Figure 6. AI corporate strategy initiatives
Figure 7. AI governance and risk
Figure 8. AI ecosystem and software stack
Figure 9. Corporate adoption of AI or AI-enabling technologies
Figure 10. Functions in focus for AI projects in 2026
Figure 11. Effectiveness of AI and AI-enabled technologies
Figure 12. Functions in focus for AI agents in 2026
Figure 13. Corporate preferences for AI agents
Figure 14. Corporate criteria for AI procurement

About the Authors

Aleksander Milligan

Aleksander Milligan

Analyst

Aleks is an Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in enterprise AI adoption. He advises technology vendors and corporate buyers on GenAI integration and LLM market trends, the AI...

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Chris Sayers

Chris Sayers

Senior Manager

Chris is a Senior Manager at Verdantix. His current research agenda targets enterprise AI integration and adoption, AI market trends and agentic AI. Chris joined Verdantix in ...

View Profile

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