Enterprises are accelerating their investment in AI, but many leaders acknowledge they are moving faster than their organizations can safely manage.

That is the central finding of Logicalis’ 2026 Global CIO Report, based on a survey of 1,000 IT and business leaders conducted by Vanson Bourne at the end of 2025. The research paints a picture of strong executive appetite for AI alongside mounting unease about governance and long-term resilience.

Nearly all respondents, 94%, said their organizations have increased spending on AI over the past year. Yet just over half believe adoption is progressing too quickly. A large majority described their current approach as “learning as we go,” suggesting that effective structures are far from clear.

Early Signs of AI Success

More than a third of respondents said successful proof-of-concept projects prompted them to accelerate AI initiatives. CIOs reported tangible gains in areas such as predictive analytics, forecasting and customer experience improvements.

But translating pilot projects into enterprise-wide systems remains elusive. Roughly two-thirds of those surveyed said they lack confidence in their ability to scale AI beyond initial deployments.

Surprisingly, in many cases the obstacle is not budget. Instead, leaders pointed to a shortage of in-house expertise as the primary constraint. Close to nine in ten organizations cited insufficient technical capability as a brake on their ambitions.

Governance presents another challenge. While most respondents said they have implemented some form of oversight, 62% acknowledged making compromises because of limited knowledge. Fewer than half said they fully understand the risks associated with AI adoption. Three-quarters expressed concern about the prospect of AI systems operating without adequate controls.

These pressures are reshaping the CIO role. Executives are increasingly expected to champion innovation while also safeguarding compliance and security. The report suggests that many feel that responsibility acutely. A significant portion of UK respondents said their AI strategies are not yet aligned with broader business objectives, revealing the tension between speed and structure.

Two-thirds of respondents said they worry about the possibility of an AI market bubble. Some also admitted they lack contingency plans if a major AI supplier becomes unavailable, highlighting a growing dependency on external platforms.

As AI workloads expand, so does energy consumption. Only 39% of CIOs said they are highly confident that their organizations actively manage the environmental impact of AI. A similar proportion said energy efficiency is prioritized in deployment decisions. With data center power demand rising globally, this suggests that executives anticipate upcoming energy limits.

Handling AI Growth

To respond to the challenges of AI growth, many organizations are looking outward. Nearly all respondents said they expect to rely more heavily on managed service providers over the next two to three years to help navigate governance and scaling issues. That shift reflects a larger transition from direct technology ownership to managing a mix of specialist partners.

Overall, the findings suggest that enterprise AI is entering a more complex phase. Initial experimentation has demonstrated value, but fully realizing that value requires disciplined frameworks and skilled personnel that have yet to materialize. For CIOs, the next chapter appears to rely on building the foundations to ensure AI operates securely and at scale.