Big Companies Are Spending on AI. Most Are Still Waiting for Results.

AI is often presented as something every business needs to adopt immediately. But PwC’s 2026 Global CEO Survey offers an important reality check.

PwC surveyed 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries. Despite the money and attention being invested in AI, 56% said it had not yet produced either increased revenue or reduced costs. Only 12% reported improvements in both.

These are large companies with substantial budgets, technical teams, and access to major consulting firms. If they are struggling to turn AI into measurable value, small-business owners should be especially careful about buying tools without a clear plan.

That does not mean small businesses should avoid AI. In fact, their size can be an advantage. They can make decisions quickly, test ideas with a small group, and focus on specific problems without navigating layers of corporate bureaucracy.

Start with the business problem, not the technology.

Before investing, ask:

• What specific problem are we trying to solve?

• How will this improve the experience of our employees or customers?

• What result will tell us the investment is working?

• Can we test the idea on a small scale first?

At Anthro Advisory, we help small businesses answer those questions, identify practical opportunities, and measure whether technology is creating real value.

AI can produce meaningful results. But as the world’s largest companies are discovering, simply buying it is not enough.