CEOs are entering 2025 with cautious optimism, bolstered by demand momentum and a strong 2024 for many. At the same time, they see both external risks and a continuing strain on commercial efficiency as potential weights on 2025 performance. To improve commercial efficiency, reduce risk, and boost overall performance, CEOs are beginning to treat artificial intelligence as a strategic imperative in 2025, rather than simply an area for experimentation. This is the year that AI begins to drive operating improvements. This report details four findings from our most recent pulsing of CEOs on their value creation strategies and progress, this time focused specifically on artificial intelligence: