KPMG Survey: US Companies Face a ‘Reality Gap’ in Emerging Tech Implementations Despite Record Investment and Returns

NEW YORK, January 22, 2026 — In a landscape of unrelenting disruption, a new KPMG LLP report reveals a growing gap between the technological ambitions of US companies and the reality of their implementation journeys. The KPMG 2026 Annual US Technology Survey finds that while US firms are out-investing their global peers and seeing higher financial returns, they are struggling to achieve full maturity in their emerging technology strategies due to a number of technological hurdles, signaling a pivotal moment of recalibration. 

“The survey data says that scaling emerging technology investments is taking longer than initially anticipated,” said Marcus Murph, Head of Technology Consulting at KPMG US. “There is no doubt this finding is significantly influenced by the rapidly evolving nature and complexity of AI implementations, but it is also entirely consistent with the clients we’ve spoken to in the last 12 months.”  

Investments and Returns: A Story of Progress and Pause

US companies are investing more heavily in digital technology than their global counterparts, with an average annual spend of $190 million compared to the global average of $174 million. These investments are yielding significant results, as US firms report financial returns of $293 million in the past 12 months, higher than the $265 million global average.  

This demonstrates that companies are getting more value out of their technology than they are putting in. 

However, even though more US companies are scaling a wide range of emerging technologies, few firms have reached full operational maturity. Only 10% of US firms describe their tech implementations as “fully scaled and continually evolving,” down from 25% last year. 

“The rapid evolution of GenAI to agentic AI has shifted the goalposts about what ‘mature’ means, causing organizations to pause and reconsider their digital transformation strategies,” said Gary Plotkin, Digital Platforms Lead at KPMG US.  

“At the same time, companies are finding that these projects are much more complex than anticipated, especially regarding data modernization, security and accuracy. This complexity has led to cautious adoption, particularly within core business functions, as companies are unsure if the technology is mature enough for large-scale deployment.”

Implementation Hurdles and Foundational Challenges

The survey highlights several challenges impacting implementation. Cost concerns remain a primary barrier, with 56% of US organizations stating that the cost of fixing technical debt is preventing them from investing in new technology programs. Furthermore, legacy systems continue to cause issues, with 40% of US firms still experiencing weekly IT glitches. This points to a growing need for companies to go back to basics and address foundational IT issues while pursuing more advanced technologies. 

“AI is not necessarily solving tech debt,” said Matteo Colombo, Global Data, Cloud and AI Leader and US Data & Modernization Leader. “We’ll continue to see tech debt playing a role in day-to-day IT performance.” 

The Persistent Gap Between Ambition and Reality

The gap between ambition and reality is expected to continue through 2026. The survey reveals a strikingly lofty outlook among US firms about the maturity of the universe of emerging technologies: While only 10% say they are at the top of the tech maturity stage now, 47% expect to be there by 2026. 

This ambition is particularly evident in the realm of artificial intelligence. An overwhelming 92% of US organizations believe that by the end of 2026, AI will shift from being merely an efficiency enabler to a primary revenue-driving innovation. 

A Shifting Workforce and Protectionist Stance

On the talent front, the survey offers a positive outlook. The IT talent gap is narrowing, and budgets are less stretched, allowing for more strategic workforce planning. The report finds that the percentage of employees feeling “left behind” by technology has dropped significantly to 40% from 67% last year, indicating that upskilling efforts are taking hold. 

“AI has increased productivity, but it hasn’t fundamentally changed the way companies do business yet,” said Plotkin.

“We’re seeing a real turning point in how organizations think about the workforce,” said Katie Dahler, Human Capital Advisory Leader at KPMG LLP. “The narrowing IT talent gap and improved comfort with technology show that upskilling investments are paying off. But this isn’t just about building technical skills. It’s also about reimagining the workforce model itself to include both human and digital workers. And leaders must evolve alongside technology to create organizations that are more agile, inclusive and prepared for the future.”

The survey also notes that US companies are adopting a more protectionist stance compared to their global peers, influenced by factors such as shifting tariff strategies and a complex regulatory environment. This is shaping how they approach global collaboration and technology deployment. 

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