For 2026, corporate communications demands are expanding as executives face their biggest stakeholder pressure – messaging AI adoption to their employee bases.
The latest Gravity Insiders survey, in partnership with Axios Communicators, offers a firsthand look at how senior executives are adapting to shifts in issue engagement and resource allocation. Our proprietary survey data – drawn from a panel including leaders across the Fortune 500 and Global 1000 – identifies which stakeholder dynamics and strategic priorities are top-of-mind for communicators in the year ahead.
Key Findings
67% of executives cite artificial intelligence as a top pressure driver. AI is the clear societal issue priority for communicators, topping the list of issues companies feel pressure to engage on since Q4 2024. This reflects AI’s evolution from a technical challenge to a reputational imperative, with emerging impacts and engagement pressure spread across all stakeholder groups.
Communications budgets continue to grow, but at a slower rate. 44% of executives plan to increase investments in communication channels over the next year – up from 34% in 2024 – solidifying the need for strategic engagement and messaging amid increased volatility. However, fewer leaders report recent budget reallocation, signaling a higher threshold for resource shifts.
Employees remain the top stakeholder challenge, while policymaker scrutiny climbs. 62% of executives cite employees as the most challenging stakeholder group to manage effectively, while concern about policymakers has jumped from 28% to 33%. This dual pressure underscores the complex role communicators must play in 2026: preserving internal trust while navigating an increasingly politicized regulatory environment.
Download the full report for a behind-the-curtain look at corporate communications’ up-at-night concerns in 2026.
Methodology
Gravity Research’s 2025 Q4 Sentiment Survey was completed in partnership with Axios Communicators. Between October 20 and November 14, 2025, 210 communication executives completed the Axios x Gravity Research Communicators Survey. Respondents primarily reflect senior-most leaders within their organizations, spanning major industry sectors and corporate functions, including communications, marketing, legal, corporate strategy, and corporate social responsibility/sustainability.
