One of the world's largest consulting firms, PwC, conducted a new survey of CEOs, which shows that more and more executives are feeling optimistic about the global economy. However, they also believe that without significant reforms, their companies will not survive the next decade due to pressures such as climate change and artificial intelligence. The survey, which targeted over 4,700 CEOs globally, was released on Monday, coinciding with the annual meeting of business elites, political leaders, and activists at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The outlook for the next few years was met with mixed feelings among participants. Among the CEOs surveyed, 38% expressed optimism about economic strength, a significant increase from last year's 18% when the global economy faced challenges such as high inflation, sluggish growth, and rising interest rates. The PwC Global CEO Survey also revealed a decrease in the expectation of an economic downturn, dropping from a record 73% last year to 45% this year. Fewer CEOs believe that their companies are highly exposed to geopolitical risks. Despite the improvement in economic prospects, challenges remain. The World Bank recently projected a third consecutive year of global economic slowdown by 2024. At the same time, CEOs are more concerned about their companies' ability to withstand major changes. The survey showed that 45% of respondents worry that their businesses will not survive the next ten years without transformation, an increase from 39% last year. CEOs stated that they are striving to make changes but face issues such as regulations and a lack of skilled workers. Bob Moritz, Global Chairman of PwC, stated, "This year is a year of transformation, whether it's accelerating the deployment of generative AI or building businesses to address the challenges and opportunities of climate transformation." Artificial intelligence is seen as a way to streamline business operations but also poses a vulnerability. PwC reported that nearly three-quarters of CEOs believe that AI will significantly change how companies create, deliver, and capture value within the next three years. Over half of the CEOs surveyed believe that AI will improve their products or services, but 69% pointed out that their employees need training to acquire the skills to use the developing technology. They also expressed concerns about how AI will increase cybersecurity risks and misinformation. The organizers of the Davos conference warned last week that the threat posed by AI-driven misinformation, such as the creation of synthetic content, is the most significant short-term threat. CEO Richard Edelman stated, "Innovation will only be accepted when we see how we take care of those whose jobs are going to change, how scientists talk directly to people and make them understand the bigger picture. And finally, on the other side, AI is affordable and makes life easier." This online survey once again highlights that businesses are the most trusted institutions among governments, media, science, and non-governmental organizations. The survey collected responses from over 32,000 participants in 28 countries from November 3 to November 22. Similar to artificial intelligence, PwC's survey shows that climate transformation presents both opportunities and risks. An increasing number of CEOs (nearly one-third) believe that climate change will alter their way of doing business in the next three years. Over three-quarters of executives stated that they have started or completed transformations to improve energy efficiency. However, only 45% of CEOs indicated progress in considering climate risks in their financial planning.