Rich Lesser, Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group, discusses the urgent need for CEOs to embrace AI amidst ongoing challenges in its implementation. Vlad Lukić, BCG's Tech and Digital Advantage leader, highlights the disparity between CEO intentions and ground-level execution, advising firms to focus on ROI and strategic pilots. They delve into essential CEO traits like resilience and adaptability, the implications of tariffs, and the emerging role of agentic AI—all while emphasizing the importance of transparent communication about AI initiatives to gain competitive advantage.