25% of CFOs’ AI Budgets Now Go to Agentic AI
▼ Summary
– 34% of global CFOs have adopted an aggressive AI investment strategy, a significant increase from just 3% in 2020.
– 61% of CFOs embrace AI agents and digital labor to autonomously perform tasks, shifting how they measure ROI beyond traditional metrics.
– CFOs allocate 25% of their AI budgets to agentic AI, which can independently plan and execute complex tasks, driving both cost savings and revenue growth.
– 74% of CFOs believe AI agents will boost revenue by nearly 20%, with 55% expecting these agents to handle strategic work over routine tasks.
– Daily AI usage among workers has doubled in six months, but only 34% of organizations have policies for generative AI, highlighting a need for better training and governance.
Financial leaders worldwide are rapidly shifting their AI investment strategies, with agentic AI emerging as a top priority. New data reveals that 96% of CFOs now have aggressive AI adoption plans, a dramatic increase from just 3% in 2020. This surge reflects a broader trend where companies view AI not just as a cost-cutting tool but as a driver of long-term revenue growth and competitive advantage.
A recent Salesforce survey of 261 global CFOs highlights how 61% now consider autonomous AI agents essential for reshaping traditional return-on-investment calculations. These digital workers, capable of independently executing complex tasks, are prompting finance teams to look beyond conventional metrics. Instead, they’re evaluating success through broader business outcomes like revenue acceleration, risk management, and operational agility.
Agentic AI, which operates without constant human oversight, represents a quarter of total AI budgets for many organizations. Built on advanced foundation models, these systems can plan multi-step workflows, adapt to new data, and even collaborate with other AI agents. Early adopters like Salesforce report over a million AI-driven business conversations, with projections suggesting agentic AI could unlock $450 billion in economic value by 2028, according to Capgemini.
A recent survey highlights a significant shift in organizational strategies: the sense of strategic urgency. Currently, only 4% of CFOs are sticking to conservative AI strategies, a stark decline from 70% in 2020. Meanwhile, a third of companies are now making aggressive investments in AI-driven solutions. Despite the rapid uptake, challenges remain. Employee use of AI has doubled in just six months, yet only 34% of organizations have established formal AI policies, and even fewer offer sufficient training. To ensure responsible growth, CFOs and HR teams must work together, striking a balance between innovation and governance.
The most forward-thinking enterprises are already building autonomous companies, hybrid workforces where AI agents and humans collaborate seamlessly. This shift isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about creating organizations that thrive on speed, scalability, and intelligence. As AI continues to redefine financial leadership, one thing is clear: the future belongs to those who harness its full potential.
(Source: zdnet)
