What CEOs talked about in Q3 2025: Tariff realities, data center capacity, and the agentic AI future

Group 1 - CEOs are increasingly prioritizing digital themes, with AI, software, and data centers being the leading topics in Q3 2025 earnings calls, reflecting a nearly doubled mention rate over the past five years [4][11][34] - Discussions around tariffs remain prevalent, cited in 53% of earnings calls, although this represents a 28% decline quarter-over-quarter, indicating a shift towards structured management of tariffs rather than mitigation [8][34] - The demand for data centers is strong, with mentions rising to 15% of earnings calls, particularly in the utilities and construction sectors, highlighting capacity constraints despite high demand [16][17] Group 2 - Agentic AI is gaining traction, with mentions rising 40% quarter-over-quarter to 4% of calls, while overall AI discussions reached 45% of calls, marking a significant increase in focus on practical applications [22][24] - Robotics, particularly humanoid applications, saw a 28% increase in mentions, with the manufacturing sector showing the highest engagement, indicating a growing interest in AI-driven robotics [28][30] - Economic growth is projected to slow, with global GDP growth expected to decrease from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025, influenced by factors such as tariff increases and inflation [5][6]