The Adaptive Advantage: Who's Winning With AI and How
Wharton Human-AI Research und GBK Collective · Wharton Human-AI Research und GBK Collective · 13 Oct 2026 · not peer-reviewed
01 · The key finding
80%
Report positive AI returns
Financial returns are one part of AI success
80% report positive AI returns. Only 7% meet the combined criteria of demonstrated value, changed workflows and alignment between leaders and employees.
02 · The study
AI returns and organizational change
Share of surveyed leaders
The two bars describe different claims of success. The results have not been independently audited.
03 · What we take from it
Assess financial value, changed workflows and leadership–employee alignment separately.
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Sources
IBM Study: Eight in Ten EMEA Enterprises Escalate AI Incidents to Board or C-Suite as AI Agents Test Governance
IBM und Censuswide · IBM · 14 Oct 2026 · not peer-reviewed
Source finding
80% of surveyed executives report an AI incident reaching their board or C-suite in the past year. An incident can include an agent failure, data exposure or decision error.
Our interpretation
Escalation needs clear ownership and follow-up. It does not demonstrate that controls work.
Method and limits
Censuswide surveyed 3,221 executives in eight European and Middle Eastern countries, 14–24 September 2026, at companies with 1,000+ staff. Self-report; no representative SME estimate. IBM sells AI and consulting services.
Where to start
Opening findings and study methodology. Header dated 14 October, dateline 15 October.
WorkLife 2026: The New Shape of Work
Jabra Research Institute und Toluna · Jabra Research Institute · 13 Oct 2026 · not peer-reviewed