Brad Jayne, a principal at consulting firm Pearl Meyer, says the rapid rise in corporate AI investment is outstripping the governance structures needed to manage it. The latest Pearl Meyer Market Intelligence Survey, conducted in May and June 2026, found that only 34% of C-suite executives can point to a clear owner for AI decisions.
What the survey uncovered
The poll of 116 board members, CEOs, senior executives and managers showed a stark contrast between the boardroom and the operational level. While 53% of board members felt ownership was clear, the figure fell to 34% among C-suite leaders and rose to 57% among senior managers below the C-suite. Moreover, 78% of those lower-level executives said their firms have the talent needed to implement AI across the organisation.
Why the lack of clarity matters
Gartner predicts total AI spending, including capital outlays for infrastructure, will reach $2.5 trillion this year, a 44% increase on the previous year, and could climb to $3.3 trillion in 2027. With such sums at stake, CEOs feel pressure; a recent survey of 900 U.S. CEOs found 80% believe their job is at risk if AI projects stall, and 81% think a peer could be ousted over an AI failure.
Jayne warns that "ambition for AI outcomes is currently outpacing the leadership structure needed to deliver on them". He adds that without clear ownership, additional investment may simply widen the gap between expectations and results.
What could happen next
Confidence that AI will deliver measurable gains within 18 months sits at roughly 50% across all maturity stages, from pilots to full-scale deployment. Executives also appear optimistic about employee capacity: 63% of CEOs think staff can handle further organisational change, compared with just 33% of C-suite members.
Boards seem less convinced that major changes are required. While 88% of CEOs and 79% of C-suite leaders expect strategic goals to demand significant operational shifts within three years, only 42% of directors share that view. Jayne interprets the mismatch as a warning sign, suggesting it could lead to finger-pointing, cultural friction or even turnover if spending cannot be linked to recognisable outcomes.
In short, the survey highlights a governance gap that could make the forthcoming wave of AI investment a bumpy ride for many European companies.