The CEOs said the best results from using AI came in customer service and marketing.
In a turn up for the books, 67% of CEOs said they believe AI will increase their entry-level head count, while 58% believe AI will increase senior leadership head count.
In a survey of 400 institutional investors, Teneo found that 53% expected to generate returns on their investments in AI projects within six months but 84% of CEOs of  companies with revenue of $10 billion+ said they expected it to take longer.
31% of  CEOs of  $10 billion+ revenue company CEOs said they expect the global economy to improve in the first six months of 2026, down from 51% a year ago.
80% of smaller company CEOs expect an improvement in 2026, compared with 83% a year ago.
78% of CEOs believe there will be more M&A activity in 2026.
Last year 83% of CEOs predicted more M&A activity this year and, according to Dealogic. M&A activity is up 40% this year.
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