85% Firms Say AI Meets or Exceeds Expectations: Survey
The survey included 1,000 executives worldwide, including 176 C-suite leaders in IT, operations, finance, and compliance
Mumbai: In a global survey on artificial intelligence (AI), 85 per cent of respondents said their AI investments are meeting or exceeding expectations, with nearly one in four companies reporting significantly better-than-expected returns. However, only eight per cent of organizations have reached the “Transformation” stage of AI adoption, where AI drives innovation, competitive advantage, and industry disruption, said a survey by Protiviti, a global consulting firm. The survey included 1,000 executives worldwide, including 176 C-suite leaders in IT, operations, finance, and compliance.
The findings revealed a clear gap between strategic intent and on-ground execution. Despite growing momentum and investment, 51 per cent of organizations remain in the earliest stages of AI maturity, still piloting isolated initiatives or evaluating potential use cases, with limited progress toward scaling.
Another finding showed that 96 per cent of advanced-stage organizations say AI has met or exceeded expectations, while 36 per cent of organizations in early stages claim AI has not delivered the expected value.
Technology and BFSI sectors lead in AI maturity worldwide, with 52 per cent of technology businesses in advanced stages (Stage 4 or 5). One in four financial services firms reported that AI has delivered ROI far beyond initial expectations. By comparison, the manufacturing sector continues to lag, with 37 per cent of organizations still in the early exploration phase, reflecting varied levels of AI maturity across sectors.
A key barrier to mature AI adoption is integrating AI into legacy systems, cited by nearly 30 per cent of respondents as their top hurdle. For businesses in the early stages of AI maturity, identifying the right use cases remains a struggle, while more mature adopters are grappling with data availability and governance issues.
“Many organizations hesitate to rethink job roles due to fear of alienating their workforce. However, recent advancements in generative AI, like ChatGPT, show that employees can appreciate AI’s benefits. Many are already using AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to simplify tasks, enhance creativity, and boost efficiency,” said Bryan Throckmorton, Managing Director at Protiviti, who leads the Global Digital Strategy & Transformation segment.
The survey recommended training and upskilling the workforce to address the significant skills gap in AI literacy, technical capabilities, and change management. It stressed that AI adoption requires employees to learn and adapt continuously.
