Survey of 1,400 Leaders Highlights Strategies for Effective AI Pilots Amid Escalating Investments
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alteryx, Inc., a premier AI-ready data and analytics firm, today unveiled its latest research indicating that while businesses are significantly increasing their investments in AI and automation, obstacles related to trust and data persist, hindering broader adoption.
The study reveals a widening gap between aspirations for AI and its practical impact. Despite substantial financial commitments to AI initiatives, many organizations struggle to advance beyond initial pilot phases. They are often constrained by a lack of trust in AI outputs, inadequate data quality, and outdated technologies that cannot accommodate scaling. Disturbingly, fewer than one in four AI pilots transition successfully into operational use.
Key Findings:
- Trust remains a significant obstacle: Although nearly half of the respondents express confidence in AI’s ability to automate routine tasks, generate content, and monitor systems, fewer trust it for critical strategic decisions. Only 28% are comfortable using AI for decision-making support, and just 27% trust it for forecasting or planning, showing a pronounced lack of confidence in its application for high-stakes scenarios.
- Data quality is essential for impactful AI: Almost half (49%) of leaders assert that high-quality, accessible, and responsibly governed data is crucial for AI to reach its full potential.
- Ownership of AI workflows is evolving: Business and IT executives anticipate a shift in responsibility for AI workflows from centralized teams to individual business units, projecting an 11% increase in this trend over the next three years.
- Increasing AI adoption: Nearly half (48%) of leaders intend to increase spending on AI infrastructure and tools, with 89% planning to maintain or elevate their budgets in 2026. The share of AI platforms within data stacks is expected to rise from 33% in 2024 to 51% over the next three years.
These findings underscore a larger issue stalling AI initiatives: trust erodes when AI is implemented without the accompanying business context and logical frameworks necessary for producing consistent and transparent outcomes. Many organizations inadvertently deploy generative AI directly on raw data sources, resulting in inaccuracies, inconsistent outputs, and variability in responses to similar inquiries—factors that undermine confidence in AI’s decision-making capabilities. To build trust in AI on a wider scale, firms need to invest in well-governed data, establish clear metrics and workflows, and create a synergy between the innovative aspects of generative AI and established deterministic rules, with the agility to adapt to evolving business needs. Indeed, 28% of leaders indicate a focus on enhancing data governance as a priority.
“The pace of AI adoption is rapidly accelerating,” remarked Andy MacMillan, CEO of Alteryx. “Our findings reveal that, compared to last year, two-thirds of business and IT leaders are now utilizing AI more frequently in their roles. Additionally, AI is becoming more integrated within individual departments. Over the next three years, leaders project a rise in accountability for AI workflows among specific business lines, increasing from 22% today to 33% by 2028. Organizations leading the charge are focusing their efforts on improving data quality and weaving AI throughout their operations.”
For more insights, download the complete “From AI Ambition to Impact Report” to explore how enterprises can effectively scale AI pilot initiatives and translate experimentation into tangible business results.
Methodology
The survey was conducted by Coleman Parkes between August and September 2025, targeting 1,400 business leaders and IT decision-makers. Respondents were evenly distributed across the Americas, EMEA, and APJ regions and represented five key sectors: banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail/consumer goods, and public sector/education.
About Alteryx
Alteryx is a leading AI-ready data and analytics company that delivers actionable insights to empower organizations to make informed, rapid decisions through AI-ready data. More than 8,000 customers globally count on Alteryx to automate analytics, enhance revenue performance, control costs, and mitigate risks across their operations.
Alteryx is a registered trademark of Alteryx, Inc. All other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Alteryx, Inc.
