Survey: Uncertainty Weighs on IT Budgets—Except for AI

Economic uncertainty is the top source of IT budget pressure across North America and Europe. Bain’s recent survey of chief information officers and other senior B2B software buyers found that more than 60% are scrutinizing tech spending more closely than a year ago. Most haven’t changed their IT strategies, but many have dialed down growth expectations. More than 40% of respondents said that tariffs could have a minor effect on software spending, and more than 10% in the US predicted a major effect. AI is the exception. More than 80% of executives plan to increase AI investments in 2025, drawing from a mix of new and existing budgets—even as most are still shaping their overall AI strategy.