Global CEO confidence in revenue growth plummets, says PwC survey
Global business leader confidence has hit a five-year-low, as AI becomes the divide between leaders and laggards, new research from PwC reveals.
According to the PwC 2026 Global CEO Survey, only 30 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth this year as most struggle to turn AI investment into tangible returns.
This figure is 38 per cent lower than last year’s.
Only 12 per cent of those surveyed said AI has delivered both cost and revenue benefits, while companies that have scaled AI with strong foundations are pulling ahead.
The report also revealed increasing concern over tariffs and cyber-risk as CEOs questioned whether they were transforming fast enough.
PwC said the findings suggested that as CEOs navigate a complex operating environment shaped by rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and economic pressure, many companies have yet to translate investment into consistent financial gains.
The survey was based on responses from 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories.
Arthur Wightman, territory leader, PwC Bermuda, said business leaders face a challenging year ahead, with growing concerns over volatility, cyber-risk and geopolitical tensions.
“Despite short-term uncertainty, our survey of global CEOs finds they remain focused on long-term transformation — driving innovation, investing in AI and entering new sectors to navigate the shifting global economy,” Mr Wightman said. “Among CEOs pursuing major acquisitions in the next three years, 44 per cent plan to do deals beyond their current sector or industry.”
AI emerged as a defining fault line for growth and profitability
The biggest question on the minds of CEOs was whether they were transforming fast enough to keep pace with technological change, including AI.
Forty-two per cent cited this as their top concern — well ahead of worries about innovation capability or medium to long-term viability, which were both 29 per cent.
Only 33 per cent of participants reported gains in either cost or revenue, while 56 per cent said they had seen no significant financial benefit to date.
The survey pointed to a growing divide between companies piloting AI and those deploying it at scale.
“CEOs reporting both cost and revenue gains were two to three times more likely to say they have embedded AI extensively across products and services, demand generation and strategic decision-making,” the survey reported.
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