Report by Thoughtworks
Who governs enterprise AI? Global CIO Survey 2026
Key Findings
21% of North American CIOs say AI investment decisions and budgets are managed centrally by the IT or technology function.
34% of CIOs whose organization has or is looking to hire a CAIO say the CAIO will operate independently with equal or greater enterprise influence.
97% of North American CIOs consider their organization prepared to govern AI consistently across multiple business functions.
91% of North American CIOs say AI adoption is moving faster than governance can adapt.
49% of Canadian CIOs describe their organization as "very prepared" to govern AI.
66% of North American CIOs describe their organization as "very prepared" to govern AI.
32% of CIOs feel accountable without sufficient authority for workforce disruption.
32% of CIOs feel accountable without sufficient authority for regulatory or compliance failures.
31% of CIOs feel accountable without sufficient authority for demonstrating a return on AI investment.
91% of CIOs say AI adoption within their organization is happening faster than governance structures can adapt.
92% of North American CIOs say they are more responsible for redesigning workforce workflows and labor models than for managing core IT infrastructure.
94% of U.S. CIOs say they are more responsible for redesigning workforce workflows and labor models than for managing core IT infrastructure.
91% of Canadian CIOs say they are more responsible for redesigning workforce workflows and labor models than for managing core IT infrastructure.
37% of CIOs cite security incidents involving AI systems.
35% of CIOs cite data privacy breaches related to AI.
21% of North American CIOs say AI budgets are controlled independently by business units outside IT.
20% of North American CIOs say responsibility for AI budgets is shared between IT and business functions.
19% of North American CIOs say AI budgets are managed centrally at the executive or board level.
92% of CIOs agree that central IT will ultimately be held responsible for security breaches or compliance failures caused by AI tools purchased independently by business units.
94% of U.S. CIOs agree that central IT will ultimately be held responsible for security breaches or compliance failures caused by AI tools purchased independently by business units.
89% of Canadian CIOs agree that central IT will ultimately be held responsible for security breaches or compliance failures caused by AI tools purchased independently by business units.
83% of U.S. CIOs describe their organization as "very prepared" to govern AI.
56% of CIOs say their organization is establishing a formal AI governance and operating model in the next 12 months.
48% of CIOs are expanding the CIO's role to oversee enterprise-wide AI strategy and implementation.
67% of North American organizations have already hired a Chief AI Officer.
28% of North American organizations are looking to appoint a Chief AI Officer.
28% of CIOs whose organization has or is looking to hire a CAIO describe the CAIO-CIO/CTO relationship as a source of organizational friction or unclear boundaries.
20% of North American CIOs say their organization's AI budget model is still evolving.
38% of CIOs whose organization has or is looking to hire a CAIO say the CAIO acts, or will act, as an extension of the CIO or CTO's centralized strategy.