CEO insights – What do CEOs talk about?
Welcome to CEO insights! Every quarter, we dissect earnings calls to uncover what top CEOs are discussing and presenting.
Step into the minds of global industry leaders and understand which tech topics are trending and what macro themes are seen as headwinds and tailwinds. Top level insights are available as part of our blog. For details, take a look at the in-depth report.
Quarterly CEO trend reports
Latest CEO analyses
What CEOs talked about in Q1 2026: Iran war, physical/agentic AI, OpenClaw, and the SaaSpocalypse
In short According to IoT Analytics’ latest What CEOs Talked About report, AI maintained the top spot in CEOs’ minds in Q1 2026, with discussions around physical and agentic AI increasing. The onset of armed conflict in the Middle East made discussions about Iran rise steeply. Talk about OpenClaw and SaaSpocalypse, too, had sharp increases. Discussions around AI bubble concerns, uncertainty, and...
60+ emerging industrial digital technologies you should have on your radar (2026 update)
In short IoT Analytics identified 64 industrial digital technologies that those working in industrial operations should have on their radar: 21 in AI & ML, 18 in automation & robotics, 13 in IoT hardware & connectivity, and 12 in cloud, software, & security. Of the 64 technologies on the radar, 18 are considered to be fairly mature. Many technologies are further out and still...
What CEOs talked about in Q4 2025: AI initiatives, AI bubble concerns, and the US government shutdown
In short According to IoT Analytics’ latest What CEOs Talked About report, AI took the top spot in CEOs’ minds for the first time in Q4 2025, though discussions around a possible AI bubble rose steeply. The US’s longest government shutdown had one of the highest quarter-over-quarter jumps in Q4, with most CEOs simply recognizing it as something to watch and mitigate if warranted. Discussions...
What CEOs talked about in Q3 2025: Tariff realities, data center capacity, and the agentic AI future
In short According to IoT Analytics’ latest What CEOs Talked About report, tariffs and AI stood out as leading themes during earnings calls in Q3 2025, with discussions around data centers and agentic AI continuing to rise. A historical analysis shows that both geopolitical themes and digital themes have risen strongly in the last 5 years on the CEO agenda. The average mentions of leading...
What CEOs talked about in Q2 2025: Tariffs, possibility of recession, and agentic AI
In short According to IoT Analytics’ latest What CEOs Talked About report, 3 themes stood out in CEOs’ minds in Q2 2025: Tariffs, the possibility of recession, and agentic AI. Discussions about tariffs reached consecutive record highs in Q2 2025 as the US continued its trade wars with most of the world. Discussions around sustainability continued to decline, and general topics around AI...
How CEOs are reacting to tariffs: Pricing, financial guidance, and operational footprints
In short Many CEOs are making key decisions due to recent tariffs, according to IoT Analytics’ latest research note, The Evolving Tariff Landscape: Impact on the Economy and Businesses, which is based on an analysis of over 1,500 recent corporate earnings calls. Notably, 25% of companies updated their financial guidance due to tariffs, 19% announced price increases, and 18% are changing their...
Our Insights Are Trusted By
Our Expert
Philipp Wegner
Principal Analyst
Philipp is a principal analyst in our Hamburg, Germany office. He leads the data team, focusing on quantitive analyses, most notably surveys, market models, and analyses. His team also leads the Generative AI research.
Stay Up-to-Date With The Latest News & Updates
Access Premium Content
Gain access to our complete pool of insights and intelligence with a research subscription.
Join Our Newsletter
Be the first to know when we publish new insights and content.
Follow Us
Connect with us to gain access to exclusive updates from our team.