C-Suite Misalignment Over Gen AI Adoption, Shows NTT Data Research

There is a misalignment among C-Suite leaders when it comes to business goals and operational readiness for generative artificial intelligence deployment.

As per a report by NTT Data, a provider of digital business and technology services, while CEOs and business leaders are committed to gen AI adoption, CISOs and operational leaders lack the necessary guidance, clarity and resources to fully address security risks and infrastructure challenges associated with its deployment.

The report included data from a survey of more than 2,300 senior gen AI decision makers. 

Nearly all (99%) C-suite executives are planning further gen AI investments over the next two years, with 67% planning significant commitments. In parallel, 95% of CIOs and CTOs say that gen AI has already driven or will drive, greater cybersecurity investments, with organisations ranking improved security as one of the top three business benefits realised from gen AI deployment in the last 12 months.

Yet, there is a notable disconnect between strategic ambitions and operational execution. Nearly half of CISOs (45%) express negative sentiments towards gen AI adoption, and 54% say internal guidelines or policies on gen AI responsibility are unclear, yet only 20% of CEOs share the same concern — revealing a stark gap in executive alignment.

Despite feeling cautious about the deployment of gen AI, security teams acknowledge its business value. In fact, 81% of senior IT security leaders with negative sentiments still agree gen AI will boost efficiency and impact the bottom-line.

There's a gap between leadership's vision and their team's capabilities. While 97% of CISOs identify as decision makers on gen AI, 69% acknowledge their teams lack the necessary skills to work with the technology. 

In addition, only 38% of CISOs say their gen AI and cybersecurity strategies are aligned compared to 51% of CEOs. Adding to the complexity, 72% of organisations still lack a formal gen AI usage policy and just 24% of CISOs strongly agree their organisation has a robust framework for balancing risk with value creation.

Beyond internal misalignment, 88% of security leaders said legacy infrastructure is affecting business agility and gen AI readiness, with modernising IoT, 5G and edge computing identified as essential for future progress. 

To navigate these obstacles, 64% of CISOs are prioritising co-innovation with strategic IT partners rather than relying on standalone AI solutions.