'Spending more on AI is not the same as creating value': New study claims firms are ready to spend big on AI, but are afraid to take the first step

Date:
Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Description:
Companies are committed to investing in AI, but they need to address workforces, security and data first, study finds.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter AI investments remain a priority even amid global turmoil AI leaders feel confident in managing risks and see greater AI value "There is no agentic future without trust" or governance Three in four (74%) global leaders plan to keep AI tools as a top investment priority even amid economic uncertainty, however new research from KPMG suggests that investment value alone isn't enough to determine successful ROI.

At present, around two-thirds (64%) of organizations agree AI has been delivering meaningful business value, however three-quarters are concerned about data security and privacy as they continue to lack a fully rounded
plan. With many businesses now evolving from generative AI into agentic AI (32% are deploying them at scale and 27% are using multiple agents), it's
time to apply the lessons learned from earlier investments because as ever, many of the challenges remain the same. Article continues below You may like Some AI work is paying off - but many CIOs just aren't ready for the impact Could the 'AI trust paradox' be holding your business back? It's time to get real on just what you need, report finds Companies are doubling down on AI - despite market warnings Shifting investments from GenAI to AI agents isn't enough by itself The data reveals that only one in five early-stage firms
feel confident in managing the risks, but this figure rises to just short of half among AI leaders, indicating a certain type of upskilling and
development is also required.

At the moment, just 11% qualify as 'AI leaders', and reaching this stage is crucial because 82% of them see meaningful value compared with 62% of their non-leading counterparts.

To reach AI leader status, KPMG calls for companies to see AI as a transformation, not a bolt-on to current setups. With AI leaders seen to be hiring for AI-specific roles, running AI training and having humans working alongside AI agents, these are the things that early-stage businesses should be copying.

According to the data, those investing in their workforces are nearly four times more likely to see AI value. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news
and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

As for the challenges that have barely changed since companies first starting to invest in AI, it all comes back to data quality, governance and
compliance, and security and privacy. Addressing these early on will enable a company to lay out the right foundations before fundamentally changing how it works.

"There is no agentic future without trust and no trust without governance
that keeps pace," Global Head of AI and Digital Innovation Steve Chase commented.

"The survey makes clear that sustained investment in people, training and change management is what allows organizations to scale AI responsibly and capture value." Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/spending-more-on-ai-is-not-the-same-as-creating- value-new-study-claims-firms-are-ready-to-spend-big-on-ai-but-are-afraid-to-ta ke-the-first-step


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