As 2026 approaches, corporate communicators are being drawn into the nexus of two accelerating forces: mounting expectations on AI adoption and an increasingly politicized reputational landscape.
The latest Gravity Insiders survey, in partnership with Axios Communicators, offers a behind-the-curtain look at how senior executives are thinking about top reputational risks in the year ahead. Our proprietary survey data – drawn from a panel including communications leaders across the Fortune 500 and Global 1000 – details how companies are handling concerns around AI, misinformation, and the political ramifications surrounding free speech.
Key Findings
67% of executives cite artificial intelligence as a top area of pressure. A marginal concern in 2024, communicators’ pressure to engage on AI now outpaces sustainability (45%), economic empowerment (31%) and racial equity (14%). This issue prioritization reflects AI’s reputational shift in the past year, as reported AI-related layoffs and concerns about its climate impact leave corporations touting AI advancements vulnerable to stakeholder scrutiny.
Leaders see managing AI misinformation and upskilling as critical for 2026 success.
71% of all respondents cited managing AI-driven mis- or disinformation as their most critical AI-related risk, followed by workforce upskilling at 63%. Concurrently, many communicators say that establishing clear AI guardrails and aligning employee expectations remains a persistent challenge, underscoring a gap between strategic urgency and the internal clarity required to deliver it.
Over half of executives are concerned about free speech ramifications. 56% of respondents say they are somewhat or very concerned that the Trump administration’s actions related to free speech and expression could lead to reputational harm for their brands. While concern is 14% higher among B2C companies – likely reflecting consumer-facing pressures – more than half of B2B respondents report at least some concern, indicating heightened risk across sectors.Download the full report to understand how leading executives are forming 2026 strategies around AI readiness and engagement with the Trump administration.
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.
