Organizations across industries now see AI as a core lever for long-term growth, efficiency and competitive advantage, according to a new research brief released ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
Despite short-term uncertainties, confidence in AI’s transformative potential remains high. More than half of organizations are committed to ongoing investments, and many have five-year plans. This reflects the belief that consistent, long-term investment in AI will yield cumulative benefits that cannot be replicated by later movers.
Latest research summaries from Capgemini Institute, Multi-year AI benefits: Building tomorrow’s enterpriseExplore how companies are accelerating AI adoption, balancing short-term priorities with long-term vision, and building a foundation for enterprise-wide intelligence. Key findings, based on a global survey of more than 1,500 leaders in 15 countries, include:
- AI budgets are increasing. Organizations expect to allocate 5% of their annual business budgets to AI by 2026, up from 3% in 2025. Leaders recognize that if they cannot scale AI quickly, they may miss opportunities and lose strategic advantage.
- AI is now everywhere. More than half of organizations are prioritizing AI investments in sales, marketing, and IT operations. Gen AI has crossed the threshold from pilot to large-scale use, with 38% of use cases already operationalized. Agenttic AI and edge AI are gaining traction and show signs of broader adoption.
- Enterprise-wide AI implementation is a new field, and playbooks are still evolving. Strong executive sponsorship (highlighted by 67% of surveyed organizations), external partnerships (59%), governance and ethics frameworks (53%), and scalable data infrastructure (51%) are seen as key enablers for moving from pilot to enterprise-wide deployment.
- Collaboration between humans and AI is key. AI is not replacing human capabilities, but amplifying them. 66% of organizations report measurable improvements in productivity and decision-making quality through human-AI collaboration. 6 in 10 are redefining their skillsets and investing in upskilling their employees.
- Sovereignty and trust are strategic priorities. Data and AI sovereignty is a top concern, with 54% prioritizing data management. Organizations are balancing build and buy strategies to combine speed and differentiation.
Who should read this report? Multi-year AI Benefits: Building the Enterprise of the Future is essential for executives, AI strategists, technology directors, and business transformation executives looking to responsibly scale AI and unlock long-term value. Advance your AI journey with actionable recommendations.
- Power AI essentials to unlock intelligence across your enterprise
- Advance AI readiness through governance, coordination, and strategic guardrails
- Build human-AI chemistry as a core competency of your organization
- Balance “transform now” with “build tomorrow” to achieve efficiency today while preparing to reinvent.
Download the research brief today for a roadmap to building resilient, AI-powered enterprises.
