Indonesian CEOs move beyond AI experimentation as leadership structures evolve

A new global study by IBM Institute for Business Value has found that CEOs in Indonesia are increasingly reshaping leadership structures and operational strategies as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded across organisations.

The annual IBM CEO Study, which surveyed 2,000 CEOs globally including respondents from Indonesia, revealed that 80% of Indonesian CEOs believe AI is changing how companies define the core of their business. Meanwhile, 90% said they are actively integrating AI into workflows to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

The findings point to a growing shift away from treating AI as an experimental technology towards positioning it as a central driver of leadership, competitiveness, and business performance.

Don't miss: The AI performance boom is real, but it’s trapped in search and social

AI-first leadership takes shape

In the report’s foreword, IBM vice chairman Gary Cohn said the role of CEOs has always centred on navigating disruption, but AI is now accelerating both the pace and scale of leadership impact. He noted that companies succeeding in this environment are those adopting an AI-first mindset, treating AI not simply as an added layer of technology but as a fundamentally new operating model.

He added that decision-making processes will continue to accelerate, organisational boundaries between functions will increasingly blur, and competitive advantage will belong to companies capable of learning, adapting, and executing faster than their rivals.

The study found that 30% of Indonesian CEOs identified AI and technology modernisation as strategic priorities for the next three years, while 35% cited productivity and profitability as the biggest organisational challenges ahead.

CEOs grow more confident in AI decision-making

At the same time, confidence in AI-driven decision-making is increasing. Around 65% of CEOs surveyed said they are comfortable making major strategic decisions based on AI-generated insights, while an equal percentage viewed AI sovereignty as an important component of business strategy.

Despite the rapid adoption push, the study highlighted a gap between readiness and implementation. CEOs estimated that only 26% of the workforce currently uses AI routinely in their jobs, even though 80% believe employees already possess the skills needed to collaborate with AI tools.

Globally, the report showed that 70% of organisations surveyed had appointed a chief AI officer by 2026, a sharp increase from 17% in 2025. Companies adopting an AI-first approach in C-suite design were also found to run 10% more enterprise-wide AI initiatives than peers.

Asia Pacific leaders move beyond experimentation

Juhi McClelland, managing director of IBM Consulting Asia Pacific, said CEOs in Asia Pacific are emerging as some of the world’s most proactive leaders in driving AI adoption, moving beyond experimentation towards leadership models increasingly powered by AI.

She added that technology alone is not enough to deliver meaningful impact. Instead, successful AI implementation will depend on how leaders empower talent, redesign roles, refine workflows, and deploy AI responsibly across the organisation.

Meanwhile, Catherine Lian, general manager and technology leader at IBM ASEAN, said Indonesian CEOs are accelerating their AI ambitions, moving beyond the experimental phase and increasingly positioning AI as a key driver of leadership, competitiveness, and business performance.

She added that the shift reflects how AI is no longer viewed merely as an experiment, but has become a core business priority for organisations in Indonesia.

Leadership roles expand beyond technology teams

The report also pointed to broader shifts in leadership expectations. About 85% of Indonesian respondents said leaders across all business functions now need strong technological understanding in their respective areas, suggesting responsibility for AI implementation is no longer limited to technology teams alone.

All Indonesian CEOs surveyed from organisations that already have a chief AI officer expect the role to become even more strategic by 2030. Meanwhile, 60% also believe the role of chief human resources officer will grow in importance over the coming years.

Governance and oversight are also becoming more critical as AI assumes a larger role in operational decision-making. CEOs projected that by 2030, 48% of operational decisions with clearly defined rules and parameters could be made entirely by AI without human intervention, up from 24% today.

Additionally, 95% of executives surveyed said they are decentralising decision-making processes and distributing responsibilities more widely as AI adoption expands across operations.

Talent and reskilling emerge as AI priorities

The study underscored the importance of talent in driving successful AI transformation. Around 75% of Indonesian CEOs said AI success depends more on human adoption than on the technology itself.

Between 2026 and 2028, respondents estimated that 30% of employees would require reskilling for entirely different roles, while 52% would need upskilling to perform their current jobs more effectively.

Globally, organisations transforming five key business areas – technology, finance, human resources, operations, and cross-functional collaboration – were found to be four times more likely to achieve their business goals.

The findings also showed that 70% of Indonesian respondents expect talent leadership and technology leadership roles to become increasingly integrated, reflecting the growing alignment between workforce strategy, technology, and business priorities.

Be part of PR Asia Indonesia 2026 on 15 July 2026 – the first time this regional communications flagship lands in Jakarta – bringing together communications leaders ready to redefine influence, reputation, and impact!

Related articles:
Indonesia's CEOs gain favour as media spotlight links leadership to national growth
How can brands win hearts when AI does the shopping?
IBM picks new global media agency