# IT leaders report AI results, few would interrupt CEO's vacation

Digest AI · Business & Funding · published 2026-09-26T17:27:52Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/it-leaders-report-ai-results-few-would-interrupt-ceo-s-vacation

## Summary

Two-thirds of IT leaders say they have seen AI results, according to a podcast interview with Azeem Azhar of Exponential View. Azhar spoke to about 160 IT vice presidents in Las Vegas and asked who could point to measurable AI results. Two‑thirds stayed standing, a higher number than expected.

When Azhar asked who had results good enough to interrupt a CEO's summer vacation, only about eight people remained on their feet. The interview suggests that while progress is being made, it is slow. A Boston Consulting Group survey found that about 70 percent of CEOs worldwide say AI success matters for how they are perceived in their roles, giving them an incentive to paint a rosier picture than reality warrants.

Many companies are moving away from expensive frontier models toward open‑weight alternatives, which could increase usage but also risk a bubble if not enough money flows back to fund data‑center build‑outs. The situation remains "finely balanced," Azhar says.

## Key points

- Two-thirds of IT leaders report AI results
- Only about eight of 160 would interrupt a CEO's vacation
- 70% of CEOs say AI success matters for perception

## Why it matters

The data shows that while AI adoption is growing, tangible ROI remains limited, raising questions about continued investment and the sustainability of the AI boom.

## Sources

1. [Two-thirds of IT leaders report AI results, but few would interrupt the CEO's vacation over them](https://the-decoder.com/two-thirds-of-it-leaders-report-ai-results-but-few-would-interrupt-the-ceos-vacation-over-them) (The Decoder, 2026-09-26)

Part of the developing story: [AI in the Workplace Unregulated Use and Leadership Response](https://digestai.news/thread/opinion-generative-ai-hype-stalls-in-large-firms-without-talent-and-process) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "IT leaders report AI results, few would interrupt CEO's vacation", 26 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/it-leaders-report-ai-results-few-would-interrupt-ceo-s-vacation

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