CxOs are cautiously optimistic about their AI and automation efforts, but do need to move beyond proofs of concepts into production.
That's the backdrop to Constellation Research's 2025 CxO Confidence Survey and the firm's 2025 AI Survey.
The short version according to Constellation Research CEO R "Ray" Wang is that CxOs are looking to innovation, automation and AI for competitive advantage.
Here's a look at some of the takeaways from our twin surveys.
- 52% of CxOs see an improved business climate with 49% remaining cautious.
- This split remains for IT budgets. Nearly half of CxOs see IT budgets increasing.
- 52% of budgets are dedicated to strategic differentiation with 33% focused on revenue and growth and 27% on operational efficiency.
- 61% of CxOs are planning proofs of concepts in AI with automation second at 46% and analytics at 33%.
- Hyperscalers are seen as the go-to co-innovation providers with AWS, Microsoft and Google Cloud ranking as the top three vendors among CxOs.
- On the AI front, 60% of CxOs responding to the Constellation Research 2025 AI Survey said they're primarily focused on working with vendors or systems integrators to build semi-custom applications.
- Half of the AI survey respondents said they are building homegrown applications based on cloud-based machine learning and AI services.
- Half of CxOs are seeing modest returns on AI efforts. One in five achieved returns that meet or exceed initial investments.
