If 2025 was the year of the chatbot, 2026 is the year the boss took the controls – and hit the throttle.
Corporate spending on artificial intelligence is set to double this year, jumping from 0.8% of revenue to a staggering 1.7%. But the real story isn’t just the money; it’s the panic and the geography. According to the new BCG AI Radar 2026 report, the center of gravity for AI readiness has shifted decisively to the Global South, leaving Western pragmatists playing catch-up in a high-stakes game of survival.
The Big Numbers
- 94% of companies will keep spending on AI even if they don’t see immediate returns.
- 72% of CEOs say they are now the primary AI decision-maker, double the rate of last year.
- 50% of CEOs believe their job stability depends on their AI strategy.
- 55% of the African workforce is already upskilled in AI—the highest rate on the planet.
The CEO as Chief AI Officer
The era of delegating AI to the IT department is over. The report paints a picture of the “Trailblazer” CEO – leaders who are spending more than eight hours a week just learning about AI.
This isn’t just hobbyism; it’s existential. Half of the 640 CEOs surveyed admitted they believe their own job security hinges on getting this transition right by the end of 2026. They are no longer asking if AI will pay off; they are betting the house that it has to.
The Rise of “Agentic AI”
Where is all this cash going? It’s not for writing emails. The buzzword for 2026 is Agentic AI—systems that don’t just chat, but act.
CEOs have committed over 30% of their entire 2026 AI budgets specifically to these autonomous agents. The optimism here is borderline aggressive: 90% of leaders believe these agents will deliver measurable ROI within 12 months.
This marks a massive pivot. We are moving from “Generative AI” (creating content) to “Agentic AI” (executing workflows). Trailblazing companies are twice as likely to deploy these agents end-to-end across entire business functions, effectively giving the AI the keys to the car.
The Global Flip: Why Africa Is Winning
Perhaps the most stinging finding for Western tech hubs is that they are falling behind in readiness. The report identifies a massive “confidence gap” between East and West.
In the US and UK, investment is largely pressure-led; executives are spending money because they are terrified of being disrupted. In contrast, leaders in India, China, and Africa are value-led. They aren’t running from fear; they are running toward ROI.
Africa is the standout performer. While the EU wrings its hands over regulation, African organizations have quietly built the world’s most AI-ready workforce.
- 55% of African workers are already upskilled in AI.
- 59% of African companies plan to spend more than $50 million on AI this year.
- 42% of African CEOs qualify as “Trailblazers” (aggressive investors and learners), compared to just 14% in the European Union.
This suggests a “leapfrog” effect similar to mobile banking: African markets are skipping the legacy tech headaches and moving straight to advanced, workforce-integrated AI strategies.
The Verdict
The data sends a clear signal: The “wait and see” era is dead. With 94% of companies pledging to keep spending regardless of short-term losses, AI has moved from a speculative bet to a mandatory operating cost.
For the modern CEO, the risk isn’t that AI might fail. The risk is that they might be the only one who didn’t go all in.
