Chief financial officers are eyeing significant increases in AI investments in the next 12 to 24 months.
This is the findings of a recent study by Bain & Company, which revealed that the capital commitment to AI is real and growing, and finance is catching up.
The survey found that 56% of finance leaders are increasing enterprise-wide AI investment by more than 15% this year. Over the next two years, 83% of CFOs plan AI budget increases above 15%, with 42% expecting increases above 30%
Further, the research showed that 75% of finance executives expect AI budgets in their area to increase, while 22% expect a substantial jump.
Bain says this reflects not just incremental experimentation, but a serious commitment to AI in the operations of a function known for fiscal discipline.
Moreover, it should be noted that this shift holds weight as it has not been easy to make, with results from early AI investments being mixed. Only 31% of CFOs rate AI outcomes in finance as strongly positive.
The study revealed that CFOs are doubling down not because early returns have been spectacular, but because the gap between those who have scaled AI and those who have not is becoming too large to ignore.
