Companies Double Down on AI Despite Elusive ROI: KPMG
Leadership accountability and cost visibility emerged as the strongest predictors of successful AI outcomes, according to the survey.
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[Image source: Krishna Prasad/MITSMR India]
Companies are ramping up investments in artificial intelligence, but many are still struggling to turn those deployments into measurable financial returns, according to KPMG’s Global AI Pulse Q2 2026 report.
The survey of 2,145 senior leaders across 20 countries found that confidence in AI continues to grow, with 76% reporting the technology is delivering meaningful business value and nearly 79% saying AI would remain a top investment priority even during a recession. AI spending is also holding steady, with organizations planning to invest an average of $188 million over the next year.
Despite the momentum, few organizations reported established returns on investment. The report found companies with clear executive accountability for AI were more than three times as likely to achieve measurable returns as those without defined ownership. “We’re seeing a clear divide between organizations with leadership accountability at the top and those without,” said Steve Chase, Global Head of AI and Digital Innovation at KPMG International.
Cost management is also emerging as a major challenge. Nearly half of respondents said they had delayed or scaled back AI agent deployments after costs exceeded expected benefits, while only 35% reported full visibility into AI operating costs. Organizations with complete cost visibility were five times more likely to report established returns on AI investments.
The report also found AI adoption accelerating, with the share of organizations leading AI deployment rising to 22% from 13% in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, 71% said they were making progress toward a fully integrated AI-human workforce.
