Canadian CEOs lead in AI ambition, but there are struggles

Canadian business leaders are charging ahead of their global peers when it comes to adopting generative AI. But new research shows that ambition alone isn’t enough — execution remains the biggest hurdle.

According to the 2025 IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) CEO Study, 72 per cent of Canadian CEOs are actively adopting AI agents and preparing to scale them across their organizations — well ahead of the global average of 61 per cent. Yet despite this enthusiasm, only 14 per cent of AI initiatives in Canada have successfully scaled, and just 27 per cent have delivered the expected return on investment.

Canadian CEOs are clearly committed to leading in AI adoption, the study showed. But the next challenge is turning that ambition into scalable, measurable success — and that means investing not just in technology, but in people, data and execution.

“Canadian CEOs are taking bold steps to integrate AI into their operations, signalling a clear understanding of its transformative potential,” said Rob Wilmot, general manager and managing partner of consulting at IBM Canada. “But this isn’t just about adopting AI — it’s about embedding it thoughtfully and effectively across the organization.”

The study, which surveyed 2,000 CEOs globally, highlighted the importance of data in unlocking AI’s full potential.

Canadian CEOs are showing a strong appetite for experimentation:

• 76 per cent are investing in AI technologies before fully understanding their ROI, compared to 64 per cent globally.
• 69 per cent say they’re willing to take more risks than competitors to stay ahead.
• 43 per cent cite poor data integration as a major barrier to AI innovation.
• 68 per cent believe proprietary data is key to maximizing generative AI’s value.
• 79 per cent say integrated, enterprise-wide data architecture is essential for AI transformation.

Plus, as AI reshapes the workplace, Canadian CEOs are prioritizing workforce readiness. Half are hiring for roles that didn’t exist a year ago, and 58 per cent plan to use automation to fill skill gaps. Rapid upskilling is also on the agenda, with CEOs estimating that one-third of their workforce will need retraining to thrive in an AI-powered environment.

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