Global CEOs Bet on AI Growth Despite Persistent Infrastructure and Data Gaps

Global CEOs are recalibrating strategies amid a slowly shifting economic landscape, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a critical lever for growth and resilience. A Fortune and Deloitte survey reveals a sharp decline in pessimism—down from 58% in April to 32% in October 2025—as leaders adapt to tariffs and financial volatility, according to a Fortune report. However, the "frog-boiling" conditions of incremental, unpredictable changes persist, forcing executives to balance short-term caution with long-term innovation.

In Africa, AI has transitioned from a future aspiration to an immediate operational tool. KPMG's 2025 Africa CEO Outlook, a KPMG report, reports that 71% of African executives are investing in AI, with 28% allocating over 20% of annual budgets to adoption—nearly double the global average. West African CEOs lead in AI integration, with 65% reshaping roles for human-AI collaboration. However, infrastructure gaps, including unreliable electricity and outdated IT systems, remain a hurdle. Ninety-six percent of CEOs cite data readiness as a core barrier, underscoring the need for localized data storage and cybersecurity investments, per the KPMG report.

The global economic outlook has stabilized slightly, but risks linger. While 37% of CEOs anticipate tariffs will negatively impact their businesses, 51% expect neutral effects, according to the Fortune report. Cost-cutting measures are widespread, with 80% planning to implement them over the next year. Meanwhile, AI's transformative potential is gaining traction: 60% of CEOs foresee significant or transformational impacts on core processes within three years, the Fortune report notes.

Companies are diversifying approaches to navigate uncertainty. SSE PLC, the UK energy giant, announced a £33 billion five-year pivot to electricity transmission infrastructure, aiming to triple its regulated asset base, per a Proactive Investors report. Similarly, BAE Systems maintained full-year guidance despite a U.S. government shutdown, citing robust defense order intake, the same report notes. These moves reflect a broader trend of prioritizing long-term infrastructure and operational resilience over short-term gains.

The technology sector is at the forefront of AI monetization. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) projects annual revenue growth of 35% over the next three to five years, driven by data center demand, according to an Investing.com analysis. CEO Lisa Su emphasized AI's role in expanding AMD's market share, with data center revenue expected to grow at 80% CAGR, per a Yahoo Finance report. Meanwhile, Microsoft unveiled plans for "agentic AI," autonomous systems that could collaborate with humans and other agents, potentially reshaping workforces, according to a Softonic article.

Despite optimism, challenges persist. In Africa, governance gaps and talent shortages slow AI scaling, while global CEOs express low awareness of quantum computing risks—only 14% in West Africa and 35% in East Africa are concerned about encryption vulnerabilities, per the KPMG report. Additionally, AMD's aggressive AI bets face scrutiny over sustainability, as analysts question how companies will finance massive data center projects, the Yahoo Finance report notes.

As CEOs navigate this "frog-boiling" environment, the interplay between AI adoption, regulatory readiness, and global trade dynamics will shape corporate strategies in the coming years.

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