Nearly two in three C-suite leaders worldwide recognize that sovereignty over their AI and data is a necessity, not a luxury. Are you running scared or running the table?
Presented by EDB
A recent study conducted by EDB (February 2025) surveyed executive and technology leaders from some of the world’s largest enterprises across EMEA, North America, and Asia Pacific.
Between 11% (France) and 27% (Saudi Arabia and the UAE) understood that sovereignty over their AI and data is a mission-critical requirement, right now. And within three years, most leaders across major global economies will come to the same realization.
Based on three-year projections from the initial findings, Germany will lead the way (69%), followed by the U.S. and Saudi, while countries including Japan, Italy, and the UK will continue to lag.
So the real question is: will you seize control while the window is open — or let competitors define the rules of the game?
The drivers of change
When asked to define and rank the key drivers behind the convergence of data, AI, and sovereignty, leaders across all three regions provided remarkably consistent responses: The top choice wasn’t geopolitics or global uncertainty — but one clear priority: breaking data out of silos. By a ratio of 2:1, this beat every other reason.
When you look at the total choices (top, second, and third) you get the picture below:
- Most often stated: 46% are moving workloads to hybrid configurations to break free from data silos.
- Second most often stated: 40% are shifting AI and data workloads to open-source solutions.
- Third most often stated: 48% are integrating security and infrastructure for a hybrid world.
This tells us something fundamental: The DNA of AI-led enterprises is built on hybrid architectures, open-source adoption, and tightly integrated security and infrastructure.
The financial services tipping point
In financial services, banking, and insurance, the collision of these variables is even more pronounced. Among executives in these industries, 50% agree that AI and data are converging, sovereignty is critical, and the goal is to deliver Amazon-level experiences for their customers and back office operations.
After nearly a decade of phased digital transformations, we are entering a period where rapid shifts in OPEX, CAPEX, and business models are possible. Enterprises are realizing that instead of relying on fragmented solutions, they must become their own sovereign AI and data platforms.
This could be presented as the “Amazon aspiration”. The idea that for all your data to work together at the point or place you need it, you have to gain and sustain sovereign control and security. It has to be achieved in very secure and compliant environments able to deliver the quality of service necessary to deliver value to customers, teams, and ecosystems. You cannot do that without a truly hybrid approach to your data and your AI.
The future of AI and data sovereignty: Yours to own
The future of enterprise leadership will be defined by those who navigate the complexities of AI and data sovereignty while extracting value from the sprawl of data estates. The leaders surveyed believe we are on the cusp of something monumental — imagine 50 more Amazon-like companies and the creation of $100 trillion in new capital value. These 30% of executive leaders believe it’s possible.
EDB will continue monitoring this global shift with a complete report later this year which will cover 13 key geographies representing over $48 trillion in GDP. The research will offer a clearer view of where organizations stand — by region, industry, and platform maturity — and what returns they can expect from their AI and data investments. The findings will include decision-making frameworks to help enterprise leaders prioritize use cases, assess platform needs, and identify the next area of focus.
Dig deeper: Read the initial findings from EDB’s Global AI and Data Sovereignty Research here.
Michael Gale is CMO at EDB.
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