Technology leaders across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region are under growing pressure to demonstrate concrete returns on their artificial intelligence and digital investments, according to a new report from Info-Tech Research Group.
The report, titled CIO Priorities 2026, draws from global survey data, diagnostic assessments, and interviews with executives to identify the top priorities shaping IT leadership this year.
The findings show that simply adopting new technologies is no longer enough – business leaders now expect measurable outcomes from these investments.
“The expectation across APAC has shifted. CIOs are no longer being asked whether they are investing in AI, but whether that investment is delivering measurable value for the business,” said George Khreish, managing partner at Info-Tech Research Group, APAC.Â
“Financial discipline and risk governance cannot be treated as separate conversations from AI strategy. Leaders who can bring all three into alignment will be the ones who earn sustained executive confidence.”
This shift comes as APAC companies navigate a challenging business landscape shaped by evolving data protection policies, industry-specific regulatory demands, and growing cybersecurity threats.
The report also identified five priorities that will define IT leadership in 2026. First, organisations must maximise their AI investments by focusing on value creation. While most CIOs expect to invest in advanced AI in 2026, there is a significant gap between the importance of enterprise architecture and its effectiveness. Realising AI’s value requires redesigning operational models and better aligning people, processes and governance systems, the report emphasised.
The Info-Tech report pointed to proactive risk management as the second priority, as CIOs rank AI and emerging technologies as their top disruptors, followed by cybersecurity incidents and regulatory challenges.
Third, the report recommends a balanced approach where subject matter experts in different departments take ownership of their data, while the organisation maintains consistent standards across the company. This structure helps prepare businesses for AI implementation and allows insights to be shared across departments without compromising regulatory compliance or management control.
The survey found that technology leaders who invest in AI-powered security tools report much greater confidence in their ability to detect and counter advanced attacks.
However, the report warns against relying solely on automated systems. Effective cybersecurity still requires human monitoring, clear governance policies, and proper oversight to avoid dangerous over-dependence on AI systems.
Finally, the study reveals a significant gap in budget expectations between technology leaders and other executives. While 34% of CIOs anticipate significant increases in their IT budgets, only 27% of other executives share this optimistic outlook. This misalignment highlights the need for more rigorous IT financial management, including better tracking of technology costs, increased transparency, and funding models based on demonstrated value.
