A KPMG survey of CEOs from large US companies—defined as those with annual revenues over $500 million—has found that investments in artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping workforce strategies. Only 9% of executives plan to reduce headcount this year, while 55% expect to increase hiring by 2026, and 36% aim to maintain current staffing levels. These findings suggest that talent demand during AI-driven transformations is outpacing job cuts.

While corporate leaders remain optimistic about AI’s potential to enhance business operations, its short-term impact has been limited by sluggish integration into existing workflows and systems. This outlook contrasts sharply with last summer’s global survey, in which 35% of CEOs worldwide anticipated AI-related layoffs.

The survey also highlights cybersecurity concerns: nearly 90% of CEOs fear AI-powered malware and phishing threats, while 60% worry about quantum computing’s potential to compromise encrypted data.