AI isn't having much of an effect on company profits — which is putting more scrutiny on why bosses should pay for it

Forrester's 2026 survey finds that while AI spending is rising and expected to reach 20% of business tech budgets in 2027, over half of CIOs anticipate missing their AI ROI targets. Only 22% reported positive earnings impact from AI last year, with many firms facing budget pressures amid inflation and rising AI consumption costs. The report predicts increased use of cheaper open-weight models and highlights potential quantum computing breakthroughs that could further strain budgets.