IBM Study Finds CIOs and CTOs Struggle with AI Governance as Deployments Surge

A new IBM Institute for Business Value study of 2,000 senior technology executives reveals a widening AI control gap. Two‑thirds of surveyed CIOs and CTOs say they are accountable for AI systems they do not fully control, and 70% report that business teams are deploying AI faster than IT can monitor. Only 11% feel fully prepared for the scale of AI agent deployment expected in the next year, while 77% say current governance capabilities are lagging.

Executives anticipate a 38% rise in AI agents by 2027, with 80% citing CEO‑driven AI transformation mandates. The study notes that organizations that embed control into AI achieve 25% fewer incidents and higher operating margins, whereas manual governance leads to greater security and compliance risks. "For CIOs and CTOs, the challenge now is scaling AI systems that operate continuously and autonomously, often within governance models designed for a far slower, more predictable environment," said Matt Lyteson, IBM CIO.

The report projects AI spending to grow from just under 15% of IT budgets in 2025 to nearly 25% by 2027, underscoring the urgency for stronger AI governance and financial discipline.