Salesforce Study Shows CIOs Are Making Major Headway Implementing AI
Techstrong.AI, Monday, November 17th, 2025
Chief information officers are rapidly moving from artificial intelligence (AI) experimentation to enterprise-wide implementation, with full AI deployment surging from just 11% of companies in 2024 to 42% this year, a staggering 282% increase, according to Salesforce Inc.'s second annual CIO study of 200 technology leaders worldwide
The dramatic shift comes as AI budgets nearly double and CIOs dedicate roughly 30% of their AI spending on agentic AI. Perhaps most telling: 96% of CIOs report their companies either use or plan to implement agentic AI within the next two years.
The transformation extends beyond technology adoption. CIOs are evolving from technical specialists into strategic business leaders, working most closely with CEOs as their roles expand in scope and importance. The shift has required developing unexpected competencies: 61% have improved leadership skills, 57% have enhanced storytelling and narrative-building abilities, and 55% have strengthened change management capabilities.