Beyond the AI Hype: Survey on Real State of Corporate AI Strategy and Governance

At Indic Pacific Legal Research, we recently had the privilege of sharing our insights on "AI Strategy & Governance for Business and Entrepreneurship" at NSB Academy in February 2026. As a research and market intelligence firm dedicated to offering practical and realistic solutions amidst regulatory uncertainty, we rely heavily on observing actual market tendencies.  

To ground our perspectives in reality, we analyzed survey data gathered with the Indian Society of Artificial Intelligence and Law (ISAIL), acting as our Survey Partner under the AiStandard.io Alliance. The resulting data offers a sobering, highly instructive look at where business students currently stand regarding artificial intelligence.  

You can access the presentation at https://indopacific.app/product/ai-strategy-governance-for-business-and-entrepreneurship-data-presentation/

Rather than making grand predictions about the future, we believe it is essential to humbly examine these numbers to understand the immediate gaps in corporate governance and strategy.

The Value Focus in Tool Selection

One of the most encouraging data points reveals a grounded approach to technology procurement.  

• When selecting AI tools for a business function, a significant 47.5% of respondents prioritize the ease of integration with existing systems.  

• Another 45% base their decisions on demonstrable ROI from pilot testing.  

• Only a marginal 7.5% are swayed by a tool's popularity and number of users.  

This matters because it indicates that, despite immense market pressure and hype, professionals on the ground are attempting to prioritize functional utility over the vendor name.  

Critical Blind Spots in Privacy and Liability

However, the data also highlights profound vulnerabilities in how organizations manage risk.

• When launching a new AI feature, only 32.5% instinctively think about user privacy right now, before building anything.  

• A combined 48% address privacy either mid-development or right before launch.  

• Furthermore, if customer data is leaked, 38% correctly recognize that customers hold the organisation responsible, but 40% incorrectly believe the responsibility lies elsewhere in the vendor chain.  

These statistics are concerning because they demonstrate that "Privacy by Default" is still widely misunderstood. The delay in addressing data protection, combined with a misunderstanding of fourth-party accountability, exposes organizations to severe compliance risks.  

Misconceptions Surrounding Intellectual Property

The survey exposed a significant misunderstanding regarding the economic rights to AI-generated content.  

• 50% of professionals know IP issues exist but do not understand the specific implications.  

• A combined 35% made incorrect assumptions about the ownership of AI-generated content.  

• Specifically, 15% wrongly assumed that paying for an AI tool grants them ownership of its creations.  

• Another 20% mistakenly believed that the widespread use of popular AI tools means the outputs are automatically legally safe for commercial application.  

This matters immensely for corporate safety. Assuming ownership of outputs without verifying the vendor agreements can lead to unmitigated legal disputes and intellectual property infringement.  

The Imbalance in the AI Skills Stack

Perhaps the most telling revelation relates to how professionals view their own capabilities.

• A high 77.8% of respondents claim the skill of "Identifying Organisational Challenges" for AI solutions.  

• Conversely, the lowest claimed skill, at just 33.3%, is "Ensuring AI Systems Meet Regulatory Standards".  

• In the workplace, 32.5% report that everyone wants "AI experience" on resumes, but no one can actually define what that means.  

These numbers matter because they reveal a structural imbalance. While there is high confidence in the strategic and communicative aspects of AI, there is a severe deficit in the exact skills required to deploy these solutions legally, responsibly, and ethically. Furthermore, as 42.5% observe that specialists are becoming "AI supervisors" tasked with verifying outputs, the necessity for strict human review loops is more critical than ever.  

Ultimately, these statistics remind us that true AI proficiency is less about operating the tools and far more about exercising the human judgment required to govern them effectively.