A new global report from KPMG reveals that while organizations worldwide are racing to embed Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their core operations, a significant gap remains between ambitious investment and realized value.

The findings underscore a pivotal moment for African businesses, where the ability to build skills, governance, and adaptive operating models will determine who thrives in the emerging "Intelligence Age."

The KPMG Global Tech Report 2026, titled "Leading in the Intelligence Age," surveyed 2,500 executives across 27 countries. It found that 68% of organizations aim to achieve the highest level of AI maturity by year-end, yet only 24% are at that level today.

Furthermore, while 74% report their AI use cases are delivering business value, a mere 24% are successfully scaling AI to achieve Return on Investment (ROI) across multiple applications.

"The future belongs to leaders who turn intelligence into advantage," said Guy Holland, Global Leader of the CIO Center of Excellence at KPMG International. "Organisations are moving past the early phase of 'AI roulette' and are now focused on disciplined execution. When ambition meets that execution, value compounds."

Full report here:

For Africa, the report highlights a critical transition. "The differentiator is no longer access to technology, but the ability to build the skills, governance, and operating models required to scale it responsibly," commented Marshal Luusa, Partner and Technology & Innovation Lead for KPMG One Africa. "Those that invest early in digital skills, human-AI collaboration, and adaptive leadership will be best positioned to translate innovation into sustainable commercial and economic impact."

Key global and regional insights from the report highlight the high-performer advantage. Leading organizations report an average ROI of 4.5x from their tech investments—more than double the industry average of 2x. These firms have moved beyond pilots to scale innovation effectively. The report also notes the rise of agentic AI, with 88% of companies investing in autonomous digital agents. However, managing these agents is set to become a critical skill, with 92% of organizations recognizing its importance within five years.

Human expertise remains central. Despite AI's rise, organizations expect 42% of their tech workforce to remain permanent human staff by 2027. High-performing companies plan an even higher retention of 50%, underscoring the need for human-AI collaboration.

Yet a significant barrier remains, with 53% of organizations globally reporting they lack the talent needed to execute their digital transformation strategies.

To bridge capability gaps, 90% of organizations plan to grow partnerships and tech ecosystems over the next year, seeking specialized expertise and shared innovation.

Looking ahead, 78% of tech executives agree they must take more risks on emerging technologies like quantum computing to stay relevant, emphasizing the need for continuous strategic foresight.

The report concludes that success in the Intelligence Age requires a balanced focus: pursuing aggressive technological adoption while making equally strategic investments in people, partnerships, and ethical governance.

For African businesses, this moment represents both a challenge and an opportunity to build inclusive, sustainable growth by closing the execution gap.