78% of American CEOs are Bullish on AI's Impact on Workplace Efficiency and Innovation, New Stagwell (STGW) Study Reveals

Core Insights - Stagwell conducted a survey of 100 American CEOs to assess their sentiments regarding business priorities, economic outlook, and views on AI advancements as they approach 2026 [1][2][4] Group 1: CEO Sentiment on AI - 85% of CEOs view AI as entering a healthy growth phase rather than a bubble, with generative AI identified as the most transformative technology for 2026 [7] - 78% of CEOs are optimistic about AI's potential to enhance workplace efficiency and innovation [7] Group 2: Economic Outlook - 62% of CEOs believe the U.S. is on the wrong track, yet 74% express confidence in the resilience of the U.S. economy as they head into 2026 [7] Group 3: Policy Priorities - Financial stability is the primary policy focus for 2026, with managing inflation (61%), reducing debt (47%), and job creation (33%) identified as top priorities [7] - Regulatory and policy shifts (66%) and trade restrictions (60%) are anticipated to significantly impact business operations [7] - Nearly half (46%) of CEOs express pessimism regarding the stability and predictability of political leaders [7]