CEO-communications confidence gap narrows, with 52% reporting increased confidence
A new study from leading global communications consultancy Weber Advisory, conducted in partnership with Gravity Research, finds the confidence gap between CEOs and their communications teams is narrowing.
More than half of communications executives say their CEO’s confidence in the function has grown over the past 12 months, while only 2% report decreased confidence—down sharply from 13% of executives who reported declining confidence in 2025. 91% of communications and corporate affairs officers now say their function is at least “somewhat equipped” to keep pace with rapid change (19% very equipped).
Roughly half report high confidence responding to stakeholder activism (53%), managing geopolitical risks (49%), and addressing regulatory pressures (49%). When including moderate confidence, 86-91% feel equipped to advise across these domains—suggesting communications teams have addressed capability gaps that emerged in prior years.
Yet as confidence stabilizes on traditional challenges, a new gap emerges on AI transformation. Only 44% of executives say CEOs demonstrate high fluency articulating AI transformation and its implications—the lowest score across all challenges measured. Meanwhile, only 35% of communications chiefs report high confidence advising on AI transformation and messaging—also the lowest advisory confidence score across all domains.
“AI is exposing a credibility test for leadership,” said Luke Hartig, President of Gravity Research. “Our data shows that the biggest risk is the widening gap between what companies say AI will deliver and what stakeholders actually experience. CEOs and boards want to see more results. Employees and customers are increasingly skeptical or even hostile. Communications leaders sit at the center of that gap. Those who can ground AI narratives in real-world outcomes, while addressing concerns, will find themselves indispensable to CEOs and boards.”
The research reveals why enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence poses unique communication challenges: nearly nine in ten respondents report at least one disconnect between expectations and reality in enterprise AI adoption. 42% cite gaps between promised business outcomes and measurable results, and 37% report gaps between executive messaging and employee experience.
“The confidence gap is narrowing,” said Jim O’Leary, CEO, North America and Global President of Weber Shandwick. “Communications teams have responded to the moment. They’ve built strategic capability to navigate geopolitics, activism and regulatory pressures. Today’s challenge is unsurprisingly on AI, where boards are expecting more and stakeholders are growing skeptical.”
The research follows a 2025 study from Weber Advisory, which found just 17% of executives were confidence in their communications teams to navigate the modern era. The new data indicates that chief communicators have gained ground – but have done so unevenly, with roughly half of respondents indicating no change in confidence.
“The era of traditional communications is over,” said Sheila Mulligan, co-lead of Weber Advisory. “Modern CCOs who embrace AI-enabled intelligence, cultural fluency, and proactive stakeholder engagement will redefine their roles as indispensable leaders at the intersection of business, policy, and culture. Those who fail to evolve risk losing ground in an increasingly complex and politicized operating environment.”
Methodology
Gravity Research surveyed its panel of over 200 Fortune 1000 communications and corporate affairs leaders December 16, 2025-January 9, 2026 about CEO confidence, communication capability, board expectations, and AI implementation. The research examines where communications leaders feel equipped—or underprepared—to advise CEOs on the challenges defining the 2025-2026 agenda.