How enterprise IT priorities evolved from crisis response to the agentic enterprise – an annual survey of CXO perspectives on technology, leadership, and value creation.
Our annual Mayfield CXO survey draws from Fortune 50–Global 2000 companies and high-growth enterprises, conducted through the Mayfield IT Leadership Network.
Follow the money: 91% of enterprises are increasing spend on AI agents in 2026 – and 56% are shifting budget away from legacy vendors toward AI-native startups. Here are key findings:
AI is no longer a tool layered onto work—it is becoming embedded in how work gets done. Enterprises are now redesigning operating models, not just deploying technology.
AI crossed from curiosity to strategy. ROI, governance, and scale entered the conversation in earnest as a majority of enterprises reported AI running in production.
Hybrid work was normalized, but cracks remained. AI entered the conversation, but largely as a feature within broader digital initiatives. Enterprises sensed AI’s potential but had not yet reorganized around it.
With stabilization underway, CIOs pivoted from survival to innovation. 2021 marked the return of offense. CIOs regained mandate to invest forward, and began consciously diversifying away from incumbents.
The COVID shock forced CIOs into immediate action. Technology priorities narrowed to continuity, security, and productivity at scale. This year established a durable truth that persists today: digital infrastructure is not optional – it is existential.
CXOs focused on turning innovation into something operational and durable. Early-stage technology was compelling, but only when paired with clear ROI, enterprise readiness, and low-friction adoption. 2019 emphasized discipline over hype and laid foundations that would soon be tested.
This playbook draws from our 2026 survey of 266 CXOs from Fortune 50–Global 2000 companies and high-growth enterprises, conducted through the Mayfield IT Leadership Network.
