2026 Data and AI Readiness Report

Inside the report

What you’ll learn

0168% prioritize data and AI, but only 17% fully trust their data
0237% are already scaling agentic AI or running mature deployments
03Scaling is 3 to 4 times as common with strong data and learning
04Regular AI use is twice as common where structured learning exists
05The top skill gap is knowing when and where to apply AI
06Governance is the most cited barrier to AI readiness

Plus five actions for leaders, the full methodology, and the respondent profile.

Key findings

Ambition still runs ahead of readiness

Most respondents say data and AI matter. Far fewer report the data confidence, learning strategy, and governance needed to follow through.

68%call data and AI a core strategic focus or a high priority

17%are very confident in the data foundations needed to scale AI

37%are already scaling agentic AI or running mature deployments

21%have a coordinated, organization-wide upskilling strategy

35%name governance, compliance, or security as a readiness barrier, more than any other

35%choose knowing when and where to apply AI as their top emerging skill gap

102completed responses, Aug 31 to Oct 23, 2026

43%from organizations with fewer than 500 employees

67%answered for their entire organization

7subgroup comparisons tested for significance

Self-selected, self-reported sample; percentages use all 102 respondents unless the report states another base. Comparisons show association, not causation. See the report’s methodology for details.

What leaders should do

Five actions for leaders

Each one is drawn from the survey data. The full report explains the numbers behind it.

50%vs. 12% of others

Check data readiness before expanding agentic AI

Respondents confident in their data are about four times as likely to report scaling or mature agentic AI.

51%vs. 15% of others

Make structured learning part of the work

With structured data learning, half report scaling or mature agentic AI.

21%have an org-wide strategy

Coordinate, fund, and measure upskilling

And 37% don’t measure upskilling results or don’t know whether they do.

35%name it as a gap

Teach people when to use AI

Knowing when and where to apply AI is the most selected emerging skill gap.

73%vs. 32% without a framework

Make governance usable

Respondents with a formal governance framework more often rate themselves ahead of peers.

Get the full report