CGI says businesses are accelerating artificial intelligence adoption faster than their organizations can support, according to its latest global research based on input from more than 1,800 business and technology executives, most of them at the C-suite level.
The annual study by the Montreal-based IT and consulting firm highlights what it calls a shift toward digital engineering and reengineering as companies look to scale AI and improve business outcomes.
It identifies three major trends shaping corporate and government strategy: rising demand for adaptive and resilient organizations, rapid but uneven AI adoption and growing pressure on talent and execution capacity.
Tech and digital acceleration was cited as the most influential macro trend by 70 per cent of executives, while 52 per cent said they are prioritizing data sovereignty and local cloud strategies. However, only 25 per cent described their operating models as highly agile.
The report also found generative AI implementation has increased by 30 percentage points over the past two years, with 62 per cent of organizations now applying AI to core business and operational processes. Still, only 40 per cent have an enterprise AI strategy, and just 20 per cent extend that strategy across their broader ecosystem. Only 51 per cent say they quantify the results of AI adoption.
Cost pressure remains the top constraint cited by executives, while 45 per cent said legacy systems significantly challenge their data and AI strategies. Nearly 70 per cent reported difficulty recruiting IT talent, and 52 per cent said talent shortages are materially affecting execution capacity.
“Executives are navigating an environment defined by rising complexity, from regulatory pressures to fragmented systems, while still being expected to deliver measurable outcomes,” said Tim Hurlebaus, CGI president and CEO. “Our 2026 Voice of Our Clients insights show a clear evolution toward digital engineering and reengineering initiatives, as organizations build new capabilities and modernize legacy environments to scale AI and achieve their digital transformation outcomes.
“As we mark our 50-year milestone of innovation and client collaboration, we are focused on building what’s next and are uniquely positioned to support this ambition as a trusted, end-to-end partner, combining deep industry expertise, proximity to clients and a proven AI-to-ROI approach.”
CGI said organizations are increasingly consolidating toward fewer service providers that can deliver end-to-end consulting, integration and transformation services, arguing that fragmented systems can limit the value of AI deployment.
“With AI adoption accelerating, the priority is now execution and value realization,” said Dave Henderson, chief technology officer, CGI. “The opportunity lies in helping organizations move beyond isolated AI use cases toward embedding AI into complex enterprise environments to deliver tangible results and sustainable competitive advantage. CGI’s AI-ready approach is designed to make AI real and outcome-focused, helping clients combine strategic human insight with the platforms, data infrastructure and ecosystem integrations needed to ensure scalable impact.”
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