CIOs are prioritizing robust data infrastructure to move artificial intelligence (AI) from experimentation to enterprise-scale impact, according to insights shared by CIO. The 2025 State of the CIO Survey reveals that implementing data-enabled AI solutions is now the top priority for IT leaders, with CEOs directing technology teams to deliver measurable business outcomes from AI investments.

This renewed urgency reflects a broader shift within the industry. The Carruthers & Jackson Data Maturity Index found that more than half of organizations increased AI adoption over the past year, with 11% reporting significant growth.

Caroline Carruthers, CEO of Carruthers & Jackson, describes this as a “second dawn” for data awareness, similar to the heightened focus on data governance following GDPR.


Experts emphasize that moving to the cloud is only the first step. Howard Holton, COO and CTO at GigaOm, advises CIOs to design adaptable architectures that can evolve with changing business needs, avoiding rigid “set-and-forget” models.

Enterprises like HPE demonstrate this agility by combining public cloud AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot with in-house innovations like ChatHPE, while maintaining sensitive workloads on private AI clouds for security and compliance. Similarly, Virgin Atlantic leverages platforms like Databricks to unify enterprise data and adapt quickly to new AI models.


Snowflake co-founder Benoît Dageville urges organizations to treat core enterprise data as “layer zero”, the essential base for AI innovation. Companies like Happy Socks have already seen performance gains by moving away from siloed spreadsheets to centralized, cloud-based platforms, which provide faster insights and decision-making.

By establishing scalable, secure, and flexible data foundations, CIOs can ensure their organizations are prepared to integrate emerging AI technologies seamlessly, unlocking sustained value and competitive advantage.

As AI becomes a permanent fixture in enterprise operations, organizations that prioritize adaptive data strategies will be best positioned to drive innovation, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.

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