IDC Survey Finds Significant Gap Between AI Spending and Measurable Financial Returns
Nearly 70% of organizations report a significant gap between artificial intelligence spending and measurable financial returns, according to a recent survey by IDC research.
The research firm's 2026 Worldwide AI Economics and Cost of Ownership Survey found that 69% reported such a gap, while only 15% had achieved an AI return on investment exceeding 100%.
In a separate May 2026 survey, 73% of respondents identified excessive AI costs as a significant risk.
IDC highlighted the findings in an October 20 analysis examining what enterprise customers expect from AI technology vendors.
AI Vendors Face Pressure to Demonstrate Value
Enterprise customers are placing greater emphasis on measurable business outcomes when evaluating AI products, according to IDC.
The firm identified three priorities for vendors: demonstrating financial value, addressing governance and security requirements, and building support beyond IT departments.
The analysis also highlighted the gap between initial agentic AI deployments and broader adoption. Although 80% of organizations have started deploying agentic AI, only 17% are using it across the enterprise.
IDC said evaluating AI investments can be difficult when the technology changes how employees work and how business processes operate.
The firm expects AI infrastructure capacity to catch up with demand around 2029, potentially easing costs. Until then, vendors face pressure to demonstrate the long-term financial value of their products.
AI Purchasing Decisions Extend Beyond IT
AI funding decisions involve a broad range of executives. IDC's September 2026 C-Suite Tech Survey found that CIOs and CTOs were involved in 63% of those decisions, business-function executives in 62%, and chief financial officers in 61%.
A separate IDC survey found that 42% of CEOs planned to hire a chief AI officer within the next 12 months.
Buyers also reported concerns about the products and terms vendors offer. Limited integration with existing systems, insufficient model and data transparency, and concerns about vendor lock-in were each cited by 34% of respondents.
Overpromising and underdelivering, along with unclear pricing models, were each cited by 31%.
IDC said vendors need to substantiate financial returns and address security and governance requirements while working with decision-makers across IT, finance, and other business departments.
For more information, read the IDC blog.