In a year defined by sovereign AI and data, one truth has become unavoidable: humans will matter more than ever. Even the most ambitious AI strategies will stall if organizations fail to invest in their people.
More than 95% of enterprises worldwide now say they want to operate as their own AI and data platforms within the next 850 working days. It’s a stunning recognition from C-suite leaders across 13 countries representing a combined GDP of $48 trillion – and a signal of how rapidly the world is shifting. IDC estimates this transition could generate $17 trillion in GDP growth, effectively creating the world’s third-largest economy if counted as a country.
Yet despite this massive ambition, only 13% of more than 134,000 major enterprises are getting it right.
These early leaders have made AI and data sovereignty a mission-critical priority. Their infrastructure allows intelligence to be accessed securely – anywhere, anytime, and in any form. The results speak for themselves: they see 5x higher ROI than the rest, with 2x more GenAI and agentic systems deployed in mainstream production. They are also 250% more confident in their ability to thrive long term.
Enterprises such as Abbott, AIA Singapore, Aviva India, Boston Scientific, Danske Bank, ENOC, JP Morgan Chase, Mastercard, Singtel, Wells Fargo, Toyota, and others are already proving what scaled success looks like.
But this transformation is not a push-button upgrade. Digital transformation took nearly a decade. The AI and data revolution may peak in just three to four years, and its impact could far surpass anything seen before.
That is why the defining question of the next era is not purely technological. Sovereign AI will rise or fall on human readiness. Organizations that fail to reskill, align, and