However, 61% of survey participants expect global economic growth to improve in the next 12 months, compared to 58% in 2025 and just 18% in 2023. Despite positive macroeconomic prospects, many CEOs worry they cannot transform investments in new technologies - especially AI - into tangible financial results quickly enough.

Only one in eight (12%) CEOs say AI has brought both cost and revenue benefits to their companies, according to the survey based on responses from 4,454 CEOs from 95 countries and territories.

"Growing exposure to external risks, from cyber threats and technological changes to macroeconomic volatility, geopolitical conflicts and, more recently, trade tariffs, contributes significantly to eroding confidence," said Daniel Anghel, Country Managing Partner PwC Romania. "In Romania, company leaders have become more pessimistic in the last year due to worsening macroeconomic prospects and rising taxes. Only a third of respondents believe the local economy will accelerate this year."

The main question for global business leaders is whether their companies' transformation pace is fast enough to keep up with technological changes, including AI. Four in ten (42%) indicate this as their main concern - well ahead of worries about innovation capacity or medium and long-term viability (both 29%). Despite widespread experimentation, only 12% of CEOs report AI has brought both cost and revenue benefits, while 56% say they have not yet observed significant financial benefits.