Signal 86% feel unprepared to adopt AI and one in six has no C-level owner for it

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 organizational survey points to a large readiness gap in everyday AI adoption. Some 86 percent of respondents say their organizations are not very prepared to use AI in day-to-day operations. Ownership is part of the problem, since one in six surveyed organizations has no clearly designated C-level executive responsible for AI adoption. Visible leadership is also scarce, with only 14 percent reporting that leaders consistently push adoption and experimentation backed by a clear strategy and concrete action. McKinsey treats these figures as a warning that governance and sponsorship, not only technology, determine whether AI moves from pilots into routine work.