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ZDNET's key takeaways
AI implementations have surged by 282% in 2025, according to Salesforce's annual CIO study.
94% of CIOs report that scaling AI forces them to expand their skills.
The CIO and CEO partnership is broadening to drive AI transformation.
According to Salesforce's second annual CIO study, AI implementation has surged 282% since last year. Unlike in 2024, when CIOs focused on addressing data gaps, enhancing security, and conducting early pilots, they have now moved past that phase and are scaling AI across their organizations. In short, the era of experimentation is over; the era of scale is here.
This shift demands a change in leadership skills. While technical expertise remains critical, leadership, storytelling, and change management now determine the success of AI adoption. In fact, 94% of CIOs reported that scaling AI is forcing them to expand their skill sets in these areas.
Also: Anthropic's new warning: If you train AI to cheat, it'll hack and sabotage too
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