African business leaders are putting artificial intelligence high on their investment agendas, but a KPMG survey suggests most do not yet believe their organizations are keeping pace with the technology.
KPMG’s 2026 Africa CEO Outlook surveyed 176 African chief executives within a global sample of 1,400 CEOs. Fieldwork ran from Aug. 11 to Sept. 21, 2026. AI ranked near the top of investment priorities: 72% of African respondents selected it as a top priority, against 79% globally.
But just 14% said their organizations were matching or exceeding the pace of AI advances, versus 66% worldwide. That measure reflects executives’ own assessment of their organizations, rather than an independent technical audit.
African leaders also reported a longer horizon for returns. Forty-eight percent expected AI to produce returns in one to three years, compared with 71% globally; 42% expected to wait more than three years, against 12% worldwide. KPMG said the longer time frame may reflect work to improve data capabilities, integrate AI with existing systems, establish governance and build employee skills.
Workforce plans indicate that AI investment is taking place alongside expectations of staff growth and role changes. Eighty-four percent expected headcount to rise over the next three years, compared with 89% of global respondents. Eighty-six percent planned to retain and retrain high-potential employees, while 82% were redesigning roles or teams to support people working with AI. At the same time, 59% identified workforce skills gaps and 58% named AI upskilling and training as challenges.
CEOs also pointed to other pressures on growth: cybersecurity and data security, and supply-chain resilience, were each cited by 31%; 27% cited integrating AI into operating models and workflows. Joelene Pierce, Managing Partner for Technology and Innovation at KPMG One Africa, said turning AI ambition into business value requires “trusted data, capable people and disciplined execution.”
The survey’s business figures showed recent gains alongside more cautious expectations. Eighty-six percent of African CEOs reported revenue growth in their latest financial year, but 58% expected annual earnings growth of at least 2.5% over the next three years, versus 68% of CEOs globally.
