The trust paradox killing AI at scale: 76% of data leaders can't govern what employees already use

The chief data officer (CDO) has evolved from a niche compliance role into one of the most critical positions for AI deployment. These executives now sit at the intersection of data governance, AI strategy, and workforce readiness. Their decisions determine whether enterprises move from AI pilots to production scale or remain stuck in experimentation mode.

That's why Informatica's third annual survey — the largest survey yet of CDOs specifically on AI readiness, spanning 600 executives globally — carries particular weight. The findings expose a dangerous disconnect that explains why so many organizations struggle to scale AI beyond pilots: While 69% of enterprises have deployed generative AI and 47% are running agentic AI systems, 76% admit their governance frameworks can't keep pace with how employees actually use these technologies.

The survey reveals what Informatica calls a "trust paradox" — and explains why data leaders are dangerously overconfident about AI readiness. Organizations ...