• 68% of surveyed executives say meeting data residency and sovereignty requirements across geographies is challenging
• Nearly all (91%) respondents report not fully understanding their AI dependencies across vendors, models, and infrastructure
• Organizations with the most advanced AI control capabilities protect more than half of their operating profit from AI-driven disruptions

ARMONK, N.Y., June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new global study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value finds that as enterprises embed AI deeper into core business operations, most surveyed organizations remain locked into AI systems they cannot easily change, reinforcing the growing importance of AI sovereignty to maintain business continuity and performance.

Based on insights from 1,000 senior executives, The Calculus of AI Sovereignty study* reveals that 71% of respondents say switching their primary AI vendor or model would be difficult, highlighting significant operational constraints. Additionally, 68% of surveyed executives say meeting data residency and sovereignty requirements across geographies is challenging, creating complexity in moving AI systems or data across environments. These dynamics point to growing pressure on organizations to strengthen control and oversight as AI adoption and compliance requirements expand.

While the need for control is intensifying, most organizations still lack the visibility required to act on it: 91% of those surveyed say they don't fully understand their organization's dependencies across AI vendors, models and infrastructure, limiting the ability to assess risk and plan for disruption. Surveyed leaders report an average of six AI-related disruptions over the past two years, largely driven by vendor services, yet 81% say a seven-day vendor outage would still cause severe or critical disruption, effectively halting operations.

Respondents also cite unexpected changes across the AI ecosystem, including price increases, usage restrictions, model deprecations, and performance degradation. These findings underscore the challenges enterprises face in managing AI dependencies.

Ana Paula Assis, IBM Senior Vice President and Chair, EMEA and APAC, said in the study foreword: "AI has introduced new forms of dependency that evolve faster than traditional governance, procurement, or technology cycles were designed to handle. That is why AI sovereignty has become one of the most defining leadership issues of this moment. The stakes are no longer technical; they are economic. Any loss of control can translate directly into margin pressure, compliance exposure, or outright business disruption."

According to the study, organizations that design AI systems to adapt data, models and infrastructure as conditions change – a core element of AI sovereignty – are outperforming peers:

• Analysis shows that organizations with the most advanced AI control capabilities see less AI downtime and protect 55% more operating profit from AI-driven disruptions.
• Yet, only a minority of the organizations surveyed (7%) operate at this level, signaling a widening gap between those building adaptable AI systems and those constrained by dependency.
• 72% of surveyed executives say they would accept a 20% cost increase to maintain AI vendors if it improved strategic flexibility.

Most surveyed organizations (73%) describe their AI environments as intentionally multi-‑vendor, yet vendor diversity in practice appears to be driven less by deliberate strategy and more by internal and operational realities¹:

• Independent business unit decisions (69%) and geographic necessity (69%) emerge as the leading drivers.
• Legacy complexity is also widely cited by respondents (57%), reflecting mergers, acquisitions, and historical decisions—common across organizations but less often the primary driver.

The study also provides a roadmap for senior executives on how to build flexible, resilient, and sovereign AI systems. To view the full study, visit: https://ibm.biz/ai-sovereignty.

¹ Unpublished data from the IBM Institute for Business Value The Calculus of AI Sovereignty Study (2026).

*Study Methodology

The IBM Institute for Business Value, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, conducted a global survey between February and April 2026 to examine how organizations structure control across the AI stack and how these choices relate to resilience, performance and operating economics. The study is based on responses from 1,000 senior executives responsible for AI, data, technology, or related enterprise capabilities across 16 countries and 17 industries. Additional analysis identified distinct AI control profiles by segmenting organizations based on how they structure control across data, models, infrastructure and applications, and assessing the relationship to resilience, performance and operating economics.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM's thought leadership think tank, combines

global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch. 

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact

Marisa Conway

IBM Corporate Communications

conwaym@us.ibm.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ibm-study-limited-control-and-rising-dependencies-leave-enterprises-exposed-in-the-age-of-ai-302802330.html

Der US-Datenkonzern Palantir hat in der Schweiz eine deutliche juristische Niederlage erlitten. Das Handelsgericht Zürich wies 22 von 23 beanstandeten Passagen in zwei kritischen Artikeln des Online-Magazins «Republik» zurück. Lediglich eine einzelne Formulierung muss die Redaktion korrigieren. Palantir und seine Schweizer Tochtergesellschaft wollten gerichtlich durchsetzen, dass umfangreiche Gegendarstellungen publiziert werden; dieses Anliegen ist nun weitgehend gescheitert. Nach dem Urteil muss der Konzern zudem den überwiegenden Teil der Verfahrenskosten tragen.

Ausgangspunkt des Rechtsstreits waren Recherchen, die im Dezember 2025 nach rund einjähriger Arbeit erschienen. Das Projekt von «Republik» und dem Recherchekollektiv WAV beleuchtete, wie Palantir über mehrere Jahre versucht hatte, bei Bundesstellen und dem Schweizer Militär Aufträge zu erhalten – ohne Erfolg. Die Journalisten werteten dazu Dutzende Gesuche nach dem Öffentlichkeitsgesetz sowie interne Unterlagen aus und kamen zum Befund, dass das Unternehmen trotz einer mehrjährigen Präsenz in der Schweiz keinen einzigen Regierungsauftrag gewinnen konnte. Diese Erzählung eines «Scheiterns» auf dem Schweizer Markt war nach Darstellung der beteiligten Reporter Auslöser für Palantirs juristische Offensive.

Die Redaktion hatte dem Unternehmen nach eigenen Angaben vor Veröffentlichung ausführliche Fragen geschickt und Führungskräfte interviewt. Palantir verlangte darüber hinaus eine detaillierte, punktweise Replik im Magazin, die über den Umfang der ursprünglichen Recherche hinausgegangen wäre. Als «Republik» dies ablehnte, reichte der Konzern Klage ein. Das Zürcher Handelsgericht stellte nun klar, dass nur eine von 23 umstrittenen Passagen eine Gegendarstellung erfordert. Damit bestätigt das Urteil, dass der Großteil der Berichterstattung über Palantirs vergebliche Akquisitionsversuche bei Schweizer Behörden auf einer zulässigen Auswertung amtlicher Dokumente beruht.

Palantir ist international vor allem durch den Einsatz seiner Software in militärischen und nachrichtendienstlichen Kontexten bekannt. Seit 2022 stellt das Unternehmen Plattformen zur Verfügung, die ukrainische Behörden und Streitkräfte bei der Auswertung von Lagebildern, der Zielidentifikation und der Logistik unterstützen. Die Systeme werden außerdem von US-amerikanischen und verbündeten Diensten im Nahen Osten genutzt, um iranische Aktivitäten etwa in Raketenprogrammen, beim Einsatz von Drohnen oder in Cyberoperationen zu analysieren. Direkte Geschäftsbeziehungen mit dem Iran bestehen nach Unternehmensangaben aufgrund von US-Sanktionen nicht. Das Zürcher Urteil könnte über die Schweiz hinaus Signalwirkung haben, nachdem die Recherche bereits in anderen europäischen Staaten Debatten über Nutzen und Notwendigkeit der Palantir-Technologie im staatlichen Bereich angestoßen hatte.