Question 1

How can CDOs deliver better AI-powered business results?

Accepted Answer

CDOs from organizations that see higher ROI on both data and AI investments are 25% more likely to say they can clearly articulate how data priorities facilitate key business outcomes—and they have clear measures to determine the business value of data-driven results 18% more often than their peers. Plus, they’re more likely to say they integrate data strategy with the organization’s technology roadmap and infrastructure investments.

Question 2

How can better data management expedite AI adoption at scale?

Accepted Answer

With the right platform in place, AI can work with data that exists in multiple systems, formats, and locations across the enterprise. 81% of CDOs now say they bring AI to data rather than centralizing data for AI. This approach lets business leaders avoid the costs and security risks that come with relocating data while also accelerating AI-powered outcomes.

Question 3

Can AI agents deliver reliable business outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Today, 83% of CDOs say the potential benefits of deploying AI agents in their organization outweigh the risks—and 77% say they’re comfortable with their organization relying on outcomes from AI agents. This is a big shift from 2023, when CDOs were still struggling with data quality. At that time, only 44% said their leadership trusted the data the organization collected.

Question 4

Do organizations have the talent and skills they need to get more value from their data?

Accepted Answer

Increasing talent scarcity is currently a barrier to building broader data literacy: 47% of CDOs now say attracting, developing, and retaining talent with advanced data skills is a top strategic challenge, up from 32% in 2023. This may be due to how quickly team composition is evolving: 82% of CDOs say they’re hiring for data roles that didn’t exist last year related to gen AI, up from 60% in 2024.

Question 5

How can organizations get more value from proprietary and ecosystem data?

Accepted Answer

It requires advanced data analytics and AI capabilities, high data quality, and a strong governance framework. CDOs in organizations that deliver higher ROI on both AI and data investments are able to cut through this complexity. They incorporate clear mechanisms for creating value and turning it into revenue for their organization in their data strategies—and these leaders are 25% more likely to say AI has changed how they measure the ROI of data.

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