PHILADELPHIA, PA — A new survey from Qlik® has revealed a striking gap between the strategic importance organizations place on artificial intelligence (AI) and their ability to operationalize its use. With pressure mounting from investors to deliver measurable returns on AI investments, the findings highlight critical barriers preventing AI execution at scale.
According to the April 2025 survey of 500 business leaders, 87% of respondents view AI as integral to their competitive strategy. However, nearly three-quarters identified infrastructure costs, data silos, and slow data ingestion as chief obstacles to scaling AI efforts effectively. Among organizations struggling with integration, seven in ten pointed to complex toolchains and fragmented data sources as primary hurdles.
Generational differences in attitudes toward AI also emerged. While 99% of executives aged 25 to 34 see proactive automation as key to business success, only 83% of leaders over age 55 shared the same sentiment. Furthermore, younger professionals (aged 35 to 44) are nearly twice as likely to fully trust AI-generated insights compared to those aged 55 and older (48% versus 24%).
“Organizations clearly recognize that merely investing in AI is insufficient; what matters now is delivering tangible outcomes,” said Mike Capone, CEO of Qlik. “Yet, as our research underscores, the road to production AI remains blocked by persistent hurdles—cost, complexity, and data fragmentation.”
Building on these findings, Qlik recently launched advancements aimed at resolving AI operational challenges. Unveiled at its annual Qlik Connect event, the new offerings include a Qlik Open Lakehouse and a fresh agentic experience designed to streamline data integration and improve operational agility. These innovations tackle key survey pain points by creating unified, trusted data environments that simplify AI workflow integration.
Trust in AI insights was another focus of the research, with results showing a significant trust gap within organizations. While 88% of executives expressed at least moderate confidence in AI insights, only 42% reported full trust in their accuracy. Notably, C-suite leaders were more likely than directors to completely trust AI-driven insights (48% versus 37%).
“Closing the AI execution gap requires more than aspiration—it demands practical solutions that simplify data integration, ensure governance, and empower better decision-making,” added Capone. “Our customers are already proving that when AI execution is done right, it can fundamentally transform their ability to compete and innovate.”
Qlik’s new capabilities position the company to address the evolving challenges of AI implementation, delivering actionable solutions for organizations aiming to realize AI’s full potential.
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