Campus and system technology leaders are increasingly skeptical that AI spending will deliver measurable returns, even as reliance on AI continues to grow. A 2026 survey of campus chief technology and information officers found 49% of respondents say the current pace of technology-driven change is unsustainable without new resources and that almost all expect IT costs to rise over the next two years. Looking to 2030, CTOs identified risks around recruiting and retaining IT talent, cybersecurity threats, and unsustainable cost trajectories. The survey also reports a mix of experimentation and concern: growing institutional reliance on AI alongside persistent questions about value, academic integrity, and cybersecurity. It notes that some institutions are exploring alternatives to their current learning management systems. For CIOs, the takeaway is that AI governance and security planning are now central budgeting and risk-management issues, not just experimentation priorities.