Satya Nadella Discusses AI Energy While PwC Global Reports ROI Struggles

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A recent PwC Global CEO Survey revealed that many business leaders are struggling to see financial returns from their AI investments. Out of 4,454 CEOs surveyed across 95 countries, a significant 56% reported no increase in revenue or decrease in costs from AI. Only 12% experienced both benefits, while 26% saw reduced costs and 22% faced cost increases. PwC suggests that measurable value stems from enterprise-wide AI deployments with strong foundations, rather than isolated pilot projects. Despite these initial struggles, nearly three-quarters of CEOs still expect AI to boost profitability within the next year, driven by a fear of falling behind.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has increased its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3%, attributing this resilience partly to technology investments, particularly in AI. However, the IMF warns of potential disruptions if high expectations for AI's profitability are not met, or if trade tensions resurface. Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2026, that energy costs will be a decisive factor in which countries succeed in the AI race. He emphasized that GDP growth will directly link to the cost of energy used for AI processing, with Microsoft planning to spend hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure in 2025.

DeepMind COO Ibrahim, speaking at the same Davos forum, discussed the early stages of AI development, highlighting a crucial opportunity to shape the technology responsibly. He views AI as a transformative tool for empowering creatives, improving learning, and advancing scientific breakthroughs. In other developments, Integrated Quantum Technologies appointed Jeremy Samuelson as EVP of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation on January 20, 2026, to lead their quantum-ready AI infrastructure using his proprietary VEIL technology. Matters.AI also hired Ankkit Jain as Director of Sales to drive growth in India and the SAARC region for their AI-native data security platform.

AI is finding diverse applications globally, from personal relationships to media. In China, many women are embracing AI boyfriends, with platforms like Xingye and Zhumengdao seeing millions of users. This trend, linked to the "economics of loneliness," allows users to customize companions and purchase extra features. Separately, podcast host Steven Bartlett credits AI translation as his most important business decision, expanding "The Diary of a CEO" to a global audience, with 28% of listeners now Spanish speakers. University of California scientists are also testing AI to advance fields like health, energy, agriculture, and meteorology, with models like FourCastNet improving weather forecasting efficiency.

Key Takeaways

A PwC Global CEO Survey revealed that 56% of CEOs have seen no financial returns (increased revenue or decreased costs) from their AI investments, with only 12% reporting both benefits.
Despite current struggles, nearly three-quarters of CEOs expect AI to boost profitability in the next year, driven by a fear of falling behind.
The IMF raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3% due to technology investments, but warns of risks if AI profitability expectations are not met.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that energy costs will determine success in the AI race, linking GDP growth directly to the cost of energy for AI.
Microsoft plans to spend hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure in 2025, with Nadella introducing "tokens" as a new global commodity for AI processing.
DeepMind COO Ibrahim emphasized that AI development is in its early stages, presenting an opportunity to shape the technology responsibly for global benefit.
Integrated Quantum Technologies hired Jeremy Samuelson as EVP of AI and Innovation to develop quantum-ready AI infrastructure using his VEIL technology.
In China, many women are forming relationships with AI boyfriends on platforms like Xingye and Zhumengdao, indicating a growing market for AI companions.
Steven Bartlett, host of "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, attributes AI translation to expanding his audience, with 28% of listeners now Spanish speakers.
UC scientists are testing AI for scientific discovery and weather forecasting, using models like FourCastNet to improve efficiency, while also examining reliability.

PwC Survey Reveals CEOs Struggle with AI Returns

A PwC Global CEO Survey found that many business leaders are struggling to see financial returns from their AI investments. Only 12% of over 4,000 CEOs surveyed across 95 countries reported both cost savings and increased revenue from AI. In fact, 56% saw neither benefit. Mohamed Kande, PwC Global Chairman, stated that 2026 is a decisive year for AI, noting a growing gap between companies successfully using AI and those still in pilot stages. Sachin Agrawal of Zoho UK highlighted the importance of strong data management for AI success. CEOs are most concerned about transforming fast enough to keep up with AI changes.

Most CEOs See No Financial Gain from AI

A PwC survey of 4,454 business leaders found that over half of CEOs, 56%, have not seen increased revenue or decreased costs from their AI investments. Only 12% reported both benefits, while 26% saw reduced costs and 22% experienced cost increases. PwC suggests that measurable value comes from enterprise-wide AI deployments with strong foundations, rather than isolated pilot projects. The survey also revealed that CEO confidence has reached a five-year low, with concerns about geopolitical risks, cyber threats, and the impact of AI. Companies avoiding major investments due to uncertainty tend to underperform their competitors.

CEOs Report Little Financial Return from AI

A new PwC Global CEO survey of 4,454 leaders across 95 countries reveals that 56% of CEOs have seen no financial benefits from AI investments. While some reported increased revenue or lower costs, only 12% experienced both positive changes. PwC suggests that businesses with strong AI foundations, including responsible frameworks and integrated technology, are more likely to see significant returns. CEOs are most worried about transforming quickly enough to keep up with technological changes. Despite current results, nearly three-quarters of CEOs still expect AI to boost profitability in the next year, indicating that fear of falling behind drives continued investment.

IMF Raises Growth Forecast Cites AI Risks

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, has increased its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3%, citing a boost from technology investments, especially in AI. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas noted that this resilience is largely driven by a few sectors in North America and Asia. However, the IMF warns of potential disruptions from a reevaluation of AI productivity gains or renewed trade tensions. Global inflation is expected to decrease from 4.1% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026. The IMF also highlighted the risk of a market correction if high expectations for AI's profitability are not met.

Chinese Women Embrace AI Boyfriends

In China, many women are forming relationships with AI boyfriends, creating a growing market. Jade Gu, a 26-year-old student, customized her AI boyfriend Charlie on the Xingye platform and even hired someone to act as him in real life. She spends hours daily interacting with him and buys him gifts. Reports show that platforms like Zhumengdao have millions of users, mostly women, and tech giants like Tencent and Baidu have also launched AI companion apps. Experts note that Chinese apps specifically target women, unlike global trends where male users dominate. This trend is linked to the "economics of loneliness," with extra features costing money.

DeepMind COO Discusses AI Future at Davos

DeepMind COO Ibrahim spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20, 2026, about the future of artificial intelligence. He believes that AI development is still in its early stages, offering a crucial opportunity to shape the technology responsibly and set its boundaries. Ibrahim described AI as a transformative technology that can empower creatives, improve learning, and advance scientific breakthroughs. He expressed concern about maximizing AI's benefits for the entire world. The Davos gathering brought together many leaders from Silicon Valley's largest tech companies.

Integrated Quantum Hires Jeremy Samuelson for AI Role

Integrated Quantum Technologies, a company developing quantum-ready AI infrastructure, announced Jeremy Samuelson as its new EVP of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation on January 20, 2026. Samuelson invented VEIL, a proprietary AI technology that will be crucial for Integrated Quantum's infrastructure. CEO John D.athan stated that Samuelson's experience, especially from Equifax, will drive their AI strategy. Samuelson previously led AI-driven solutions at Equifax to enhance data security and improve customer experience. He looks forward to developing innovative AI solutions to protect sensitive data from quantum computing threats.

Microsoft CEO Says Energy Costs Drive AI Race

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2026, that energy costs will determine which countries succeed in the AI race. He explained that GDP growth will directly link to the cost of energy used for AI. Nadella introduced "tokens" as a new global commodity for AI processing, noting that cheaper energy leads to cheaper tokens and better economic growth. Microsoft plans to spend hundreds of billions on AI infrastructure in 2025. He also advised Europe, which has high energy costs, to adopt a more global outlook to ensure its products remain competitive worldwide.

Steven Bartlett Credits AI for Podcast Success

Steven Bartlett, host of "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, shared at the World Economic Forum in Davos that AI translation is his most important business decision. He explained that using AI to translate his podcast into multiple languages, including Spanish, has greatly expanded his audience. In 2025, "The Diary of a CEO" was Spotify's second-most-listened-to podcast globally. Bartlett noted that 28% of his audience is now Spanish speakers, allowing them access to interviews with high-profile guests like Michelle Obama. This AI-powered translation has transformed his media business by overcoming language barriers.

UC Scientists Test AI for Science and Weather

University of California scientists are actively testing AI to advance fields like health, energy, agriculture, and meteorology. While many Americans are concerned about AI, they also acknowledge its benefits in speeding up scientific discovery. UC researchers, like Ashesh Chattopadhyay from UC Santa Cruz, are using AI to improve complex tasks such as weather forecasting. AI models like FourCastNet can generate forecasts in seconds using far less computing power than traditional methods. However, scientists are cautiously examining AI's reliability, especially for predicting extreme, unprecedented weather events like Hurricane Harvey, which traditional physics-based models successfully predicted.

Matters AI Hires Ankkit Jain for Sales Director Role

Matters.AI, an AI-native data security platform, announced the appointment of Ankkit Jain as its new Director of Sales. Jain will lead enterprise sales and government-sector growth across India and the SAARC region. He brings over 17 years of experience in cybersecurity and enterprise technology, having held senior sales leadership roles at major companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and RSA Security. Dhiraj Khare, Chief Revenue Officer at Matters.AI, stated that Jain's expertise will be crucial for helping customers operationalize security. Jain is excited to help organizations modernize their security with Matters.AI's intelligent, preventive defense platform.