AI Anchors CEO Investment Plans Amid Global Uncertainty, Finds EY – digit.fyi
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Tom Quinn
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Most UK CEOs have been forced to adapt their investment plans over the last year as they weather uncertain geopolitical and trade environments, yet business leaders’ enthusiasm for more AI investments remains undented as ever, according to EY’s latest survey.
Polling 100 UK CEOs, EY found the majority (78%) have changed course on investment strategies, with 32% delaying plans, 31% speeding them up, and 9% stopping an investment outright in response to geopolitical or trade pressures.
Despite this turbulence, nine in 10 CEOs are confident about their company’s prospects for the next twelve months, with 89% expecting profitability in 2026.
A key source of this optimism is CEOs’ continued focus on AI and emerging tech, which EY found remains central to their growth plans.
Almost all business leaders (96%) said they would be investing in emerging technology in the year, with 40% believing that investment in AI in particular will be critical for their organisation to adapt in a shifting geopolitical and economic environment.
CEOs were also upbeat about AI’s ability to attract and retain talent, with 62% believing that tech investments will be critical to retaining staff or hiring new talent over the coming year, while 51% plan on using AI transformation initiatives to improve customer engagement and retention.
The survey found that over half of respondents (57%) are undergoing a significant enterprise-wide transformation initiative, with 41% are planning to start in the next twelve months.
However, while 90% of CEOs agreed that AI will have a transformative or significant impact on their business in the next two years, they are also facing challenges when it comes to its adoption, with 36% concerned about cyber risks, and 23% by high up-front running costs.
“While there is excitement surrounding the potential of AI, the reality for CEOs is far more nuanced,” said Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I managing partner for EY-Parthenon.
“It is essential that business leaders adopt a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the transformative impact of AI while also addressing challenges such as cybersecurity risks, the regulatory landscape, and upskilling their workforce.”
Pragmatism is also shaping M&A strategy, with CEOs hunting for strategic partners that can unlock new capabilities or markets, broadening their footprint amid economic uncertainty.
EY found that almost all firms (99%) are planning to pursue a transaction initiative over the next year, with 83% considering joint ventures or strategic alliances with third parties, while 16% are looking at divestments, spin-offs or IPOs.
Of the UK CEOs who are considering M&A activity, half (50%) said they are using a potential acquisition to accelerate top-line growth, followed by 44% who are using it to optimise operations and improve productivity.
“CEOs who actively reassess their capital allocation, effectively navigate geopolitical complexities, and focus on technology-driven M&A to build resilient and adaptable portfolios will be well-positioned to not only withstand potential market volatility, but also capitalise on the opportunities that 2026 may present,” said Rindone.
Tom Quinn
Staff Writer, DIGIT
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© 2026 DIGIT
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This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
AI Anchors CEO Investment Plans Amid Global Uncertainty, Finds EY
With UK CEOs navigating macroeconomic headwinds, most are leaning on AI investment and strategic M&A to future-proof their businesses.
Tom Quinn
,
Most UK CEOs have been forced to adapt their investment plans over the last year as they weather uncertain geopolitical and trade environments, yet business leaders’ enthusiasm for more AI investments remains undented as ever, according to EY’s latest survey.
Polling 100 UK CEOs, EY found the majority (78%) have changed course on investment strategies, with 32% delaying plans, 31% speeding them up, and 9% stopping an investment outright in response to geopolitical or trade pressures.
Despite this turbulence, nine in 10 CEOs are confident about their company’s prospects for the next twelve months, with 89% expecting profitability in 2026.
A key source of this optimism is CEOs’ continued focus on AI and emerging tech, which EY found remains central to their growth plans.
Almost all business leaders (96%) said they would be investing in emerging technology in the year, with 40% believing that investment in AI in particular will be critical for their organisation to adapt in a shifting geopolitical and economic environment.
CEOs were also upbeat about AI’s ability to attract and retain talent, with 62% believing that tech investments will be critical to retaining staff or hiring new talent over the coming year, while 51% plan on using AI transformation initiatives to improve customer engagement and retention.
The survey found that over half of respondents (57%) are undergoing a significant enterprise-wide transformation initiative, with 41% are planning to start in the next twelve months.
However, while 90% of CEOs agreed that AI will have a transformative or significant impact on their business in the next two years, they are also facing challenges when it comes to its adoption, with 36% concerned about cyber risks, and 23% by high up-front running costs.
“While there is excitement surrounding the potential of AI, the reality for CEOs is far more nuanced,” said Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I managing partner for EY-Parthenon.
“It is essential that business leaders adopt a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the transformative impact of AI while also addressing challenges such as cybersecurity risks, the regulatory landscape, and upskilling their workforce.”
Pragmatism is also shaping M&A strategy, with CEOs hunting for strategic partners that can unlock new capabilities or markets, broadening their footprint amid economic uncertainty.
EY found that almost all firms (99%) are planning to pursue a transaction initiative over the next year, with 83% considering joint ventures or strategic alliances with third parties, while 16% are looking at divestments, spin-offs or IPOs.
Of the UK CEOs who are considering M&A activity, half (50%) said they are using a potential acquisition to accelerate top-line growth, followed by 44% who are using it to optimise operations and improve productivity.
“CEOs who actively reassess their capital allocation, effectively navigate geopolitical complexities, and focus on technology-driven M&A to build resilient and adaptable portfolios will be well-positioned to not only withstand potential market volatility, but also capitalise on the opportunities that 2026 may present,” said Rindone.
Tom Quinn
Staff Writer, DIGIT
Explore
Subscribe to
© 2026 DIGIT
source
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
