Leadership & Public Speaking | Artificial Intelligence

Survey Shows Shift in CEO Trust from AI to Human Communicators

14 November 2026 3 min read هدهد تك | Hudhud Tech

Trust is shifting back to people over machines, according to the latest HarrisX-Ragan survey.

Last year, a startling finding revealed that 57% of CEOs preferred having their speeches written by an AI trained on their past speeches rather than by an experienced human communicator.

This raised concerns about leaders prioritizing the precision of AI over the experience and humanity of a person.

However, the 6th annual HarrisX & Ragan Survey of CEOs and Communications Leaders indicates a change. This year, 52% of CEOs expressed a preference for human communicators, marking a 9-point increase from the previous year.

While this represents a slim majority, it reflects a broader trend where AI is no longer viewed as a comprehensive solution for communications.

Another significant statistic shows that 70% of CEOs believe communicators equipped with AI tools are essential for a company’s success. In contrast, only 30% prioritize AI prompting and data fluency as the most critical skills for communicators. This is a notable reversal from last year, with a 19-point increase in those valuing communication skills over AI capabilities.

CEOs and communicators agree that the primary risk is not falling behind in AI skills but becoming overly reliant on AI, thus sacrificing judgment and human insight.

In just one year, there has been a major shift in CEO attitudes towards AI in communications. Although the survey did not explore the reasons behind these changes, it suggests a growing familiarity with AI’s capabilities and limitations.

While AI can generate polished content, it often lacks specificity and depth. The previous year’s statistic about speechwriting forced a binary choice between AI and human input. Now, many leaders see a future where the best of AI complements human skills, with the latter deemed more crucial.

As terms like “AI slop” enter common usage, highlighting the blandness of AI-generated content, CEOs recognize the risks of superficial messaging that fails to engage meaningfully.

This year’s survey indicates a maturation in the adoption of AI. It is no longer seen as a magic solution but as a tool among others. The top use cases for AI among communicators have shifted from writing and crisis communication to research, brainstorming, and copy editing.

Roles requiring strategic thinking and empathy are increasingly being returned to human communicators.

While AI will continue to evolve, the balance in communications is tipping back toward human involvement.

For further insights, including how CEOs view social issues and the role of social media in crisis management, the full report is available for download.