Boards Are Done Funding AI On Potential Alone. Why Leaders Need To Prove ROI For Continued Investment.
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Key Takeaway
Boards are closing the checkbook on AI pilots that can't show measurable returns – and a recent Ponemon Institute survey makes clear why that pressure is landing hard, with nearly half of senior IT leaders unable to demonstrate ROI from initiatives already underway. The programs that survive budget scrutiny share a common discipline: they measure impact over activity, track baselines and trendlines, and treat data readiness as a prerequisite rather than an afterthought. If you're defending an AI budget in 2026, the question your board is asking isn't whether AI works in theory – it's whether you can prove what it's actually delivering and show that the number improves over time.
Boards are closing the checkbook on AI pilots that can't show measurable returns – and a recent Ponemon Institute survey makes clear why that pressure is landing hard, with nearly half of senior IT leaders unable to demonstrate ROI from initiatives already underway. The programs that survive budget scrutiny share a common discipline: they measure impact over activity, track baselines and trendlines, and treat data readiness as a prerequisite rather than an afterthought. If you're defending an AI budget in 2026, the question your board is asking isn't whether AI works in theory – it's whether you can prove what it's actually delivering and show that the number improves over time.
Originally reported by Business Insider. Read the full story here.
