The January 2026 study by IBM points to a clear trend around AI-driven business growth through 2030. Most business leaders are no longer just curious about artificial intelligence. Instead, they increasingly see it as a fundamental driver of future growth and change in their industries. The report shows that 79 percent of executives surveyed believe AI will significantly contribute to their company’s revenue by 2030, up sharply from just 40 percent today (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). In other words, there is a strong shift in mindset.
Even with that confidence, leaders are still unsure where the revenue will come from. Only about a quarter of those surveyed have a clear view on which products or services will tap into AI’s value. This gap suggests that companies are optimistic yet facing real strategic questions about how to turn AI hype into measurable business results (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). The survey involved more than 2,000 executives across dozens of industries, giving it broad relevance to how organizations are thinking about AI investment right now.
From Efficiency to AI-Driven Business Growth Through 2030
The study predicts how priorities will change over the next few years. Today, about half of all AI spending focuses on improving operational efficiency. By 2030, executives expect that over 60 percent of AI investment will go toward innovation and growth initiatives instead (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). That shift says a lot about how leaders see AI evolving. They want tools that help them create new products, enter new markets, and reimagine customer experiences, not just cut costs.
Alongside this trend toward innovation, executives also expect meaningful gains in productivity. Survey respondents believe that AI can lift productivity by roughly 42 percent by the end of the decade. Many plan to reinvest the improved productivity into further growth activities rather than simply using the gains to reduce overhead (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). Historically, when productivity improvements like these are paired with strategic investments rather than short-term cost-cutting, they are more likely to lead to long-term economic growth.
Despite the positive outlook, there is concern about execution. For instance, 68 percent of leaders worry that their AI plans could fail if the technology is not well integrated into day-to-day operations (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). This reflects a gap between broad enthusiasm and the hard work of redesigning business processes. That tension between vision and implementation is common when new technologies emerge, as companies try to balance current performance with future-focused innovation.
What Skills and Leaders Will Matter Most
The study also highlights how AI will influence workforce skills and leadership roles. By 2030, many boards are expected to include dedicated AI advisors or co-decision-makers, and most executives agree that AI will redefine leadership roles throughout the enterprise (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026). At the same time, many job roles are likely to change quickly, and leaders are signaling that mindset and adaptability could matter more than specific technical skills.
These views align with broader trends seen in other research about workforce transformation. For example, studies have shown that integrating AI often requires not only new technologies but also changes in how organizations structure work, prioritize training, and guide teams through transitions. Skills related to decision-making, collaboration, and critical thinking are increasingly important as AI tools take on more routine tasks.
This study emphasizes AI as more than a tool for automation. It presents a picture in which AI becomes part of the central strategy for growth, competitiveness, and innovation. Whether companies are ready to deliver on that promise will depend on how they bridge the gap between expectations and execution in the years to come.
Leading through AI change takes more than new tools. Read AI for Executive Leadership: A Complete 2026 Career Guide
References
IBM Institute for Business Value. (2026, January 19). IBM study: AI poised to drive smarter business growth through 2030. IBM Newsroom. https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-01-19-ibm-study-ai-poised-to-drive-smarter-business-growth-through-2030
