Leadership in the Age of AI –  2/7

AI is rapidly transforming the way leaders work, make decisions, and create value. Drawing on insights from nearly 1,800 leaders across 13 countries, our Leadership Report 2026 identifies seven key trends shaping leadership in the age of AI.

This article explores one of those seven trends. Each article can be read on its own – but together, the series offers a broader perspective on what it takes to lead effectively as AI becomes an integrated part of everyday work.

If you want to explore all seven trends in depth, you can download the full report here.

When AI is a strategic priority – but still lives a life of its own

In many leadership teams today, AI is described as a strategic priority. Yet in practice, AI often lives a quiet parallel life within the organization: driven by individuals, used inconsistently, and rarely integrated into core workflows.

According to our Leadership Report 2026, many organizations remain in an experimental phase. AI is applied to specific tasks, but rarely embedded into processes, decision structures, or cross-functional collaboration. Implementation is often bottom-up – driven by curiosity rather than clear leadership direction.

This creates a classic leadership dilemma. Ambition is high, but execution falls behind. Without shared frameworks, organizations risk fragmentation: different tools, uneven capabilities, and unclear expectations regarding responsibility and impact.

Moving from experimentation to real integration requires more than technology. It requires leadership – clear prioritization, investment in capabilities, and ownership of how AI should create value across the organization.

In the full report, you can read more about where AI implementation typically stalls – and where leaders need to act to turn ambition into action.

👉 Download it here.