Deloitte’s 2026 survey finds CDAOs gaining influence as AI leaders, though many still face talent gaps, data challenges, and pressure to prove ROI.
Chief Data and Analytics Officers are rapidly becoming central figures in enterprise artificial intelligence strategies, according to Deloitte’s newly released 2026 Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) Survey, titled “Today’s AI Trailblazers: The CDAO’s Emerging Influence and Challenges.”
The report examines how CDAOs’ responsibilities and influence are expanding as organizations race to unlock value from AI.
“Effective data leadership is a foundational element of AI success, and today’s CDAOs are increasingly in the driver’s seat for enterprise AI initiatives,” said Ashish Verma, chief data and analytics officer at Deloitte. “Modern CDAOs are bringing their vision to the table, managing larger teams and transforming data and AI strategies. Our research shows they expect their role to grow even further as organizations rely on their expertise to drive value.”
Growing Influence in the AI Era
The survey indicates that CDAOs are quickly emerging as mission-critical leaders responsible for translating AI experimentation into measurable business outcomes.
- 94% of surveyed CDAOs expect their influence to grow over the next 12 months.
- 78% say AI has increased their decision-making authority.
- 63% describe themselves as the primary drivers of data and analytics decisions within their organizations.
As AI adoption accelerates, many CDAOs see their role evolving beyond technical oversight into broader leadership and strategy.
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Data as the Engine of AI Adoption
The survey also highlights a strong focus on modernizing data environments to support AI initiatives.
- 65% say AI adoption has made their role more critical, expanding their influence into strategic decision-making.
- 78% report their organizations are actively implementing data modernization efforts.
- 61% say improving data quality and accessibility is essential for AI and agentic AI initiatives to succeed.
- 53% emphasize the importance of improving data and AI skills across teams.
- 52% stress the need for stronger collaboration between data teams and other departments.
Despite this momentum, many leaders remain under pressure to demonstrate tangible business value. More than half (56%) of respondents say they face intense pressure to prove the return on investment from data and AI initiatives.
Persistent Challenges
Even as organizations invest heavily in AI, many CDAOs believe they are not yet maximizing the value of their data.
- 95% say their organizations are not fully leveraging data’s potential.
- 53% report being highly concerned about this gap.
- 91% believe their organizations should do more to adopt emerging AI models, tools and innovations.
Resource constraints also remain a barrier. Many respondents say their organizations struggle to hire and retain top data and analytics talent, while 44% believe additional investment in employee training and upskilling would strengthen their data capabilities.
Privacy safeguards also lag behind expectations. Only 19% of CDAOs say their organizations have robust guardrails in place to ensure data privacy.
A Role Built for the Long Term
Despite the pressures, the survey suggests that CDAOs see the role as increasingly stable and influential.
- 56% say they expect to remain in the position until retirement.
- Only 9% plan to leave their role or switch careers in the near future.
- 62% say the realities of the job largely align with their expectations.
A significant majority — 89% — describe their role as one that can actively shape or transform enterprise data and AI strategies with strong executive backing.
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“CDAOs recognize that their role is more important than ever as AI adoption increases, and most are rising to the challenge,” Verma said. “Organizations that don’t yet have a CDAO should consider creating one. At this moment in technological evolution, companies need leaders fluent in business, technology and innovation who can guide projects from conception to long-term value.”
As enterprises navigate the rapid evolution of AI, the survey suggests that the once narrowly defined data leadership role is becoming a cornerstone of corporate strategy.
