Are CFOs investing fast enough or just stuck in pilot mode as AI agents rewrite how work gets done?

AI agents aren’t some far-off concept from Silicon Valley think tanks. They’re already sitting next to your team (virtually, of course), quietly rewriting how work gets done. And while many companies are still experimenting with flashy pilots or dipping their toes in generative AI, a new kind of digital workforce is rapidly taking over the back office, the front lines, and everything in between.

In PwC’s May 2025 AI Agent Survey, the message is loud and clear: the era of agentic AI isn’t coming, it’s here. But while budgets are booming and productivity is rising, most organizations are still crawling when they should be sprinting. The real story? It’s not about the tech. It’s about the people, the mindsets, and the willingness to rethink work from the ground up.

Let’s dive in.

Budgets Are Booming, But Ambition Isn’t Keeping Pace

88% of surveyed US executives say they plan to increase their AI budgets in the next 12 months, with over a quarter eyeing jumps of 26% or more. These aren’t incremental shifts; they signal a readiness to double down on agentic AI.

Yet, despite this investment, only 17% say AI agents are fully embedded across workflows and functions. Even fewer — just 32% — report that more than half their workforce engages with AI agents regularly. In short, the checks are being signed, but the transformation is lagging.

A shining exception? One hospitality giant is already deploying multi-agent systems across employee and customer touchpoints, reaping faster service, richer experiences, and lower operational costs. It’s not futuristic anymore. It’s just well-executed.

Productivity Gains Are Real, But Shallow!

There’s no question that AI agents are already pulling their weight. Among companies that have adopted them, 66% report measurable productivity gains, while 57% are seeing tangible cost savings. At the same time, 55% say decision-making is faster, and 54% point to improvements in customer experience. These early wins suggest that agentic AI isn’t just theoretical,  it’s delivering results where it counts.

These early wins mostly come from automating low-complexity tasks. Its updating records, responding to queries, and summarizing data. It’s a solid start. But PwC’s caution rings loud: don’t settle for the low-hanging fruit. Companies that plateau at pilot projects or isolated use cases are at risk of being left behind by competitors who are redesigning the entire orchard.

The Real Blocker? Humans, Not Machines

Let’s call this out: AI agents aren’t being held back by security or cost — they’re being held back by mindset inertia.

Executives ranked cybersecurity, trust, and cost as top challenges. But further down the list? The real friction points:

• Only 19% cite difficulty connecting AI agents across workflows
  
• Just 17% blame organizational change
  
• And a mere 14% point to employee resistance
  

The real hurdles are human. We’re trying to utilize AI to streamline tasks without altering the system to which those tasks belong. That’s like asking a Formula 1 car to win on a dirt road.

Yet, there’s hope. 67% of executives say AI agents will drastically transform roles within 12 months, and 48% expect to increase headcount, not reduce it. Why? Because smart companies are using agents to amplify humans, not replace them.

To unlock this, leaders must reimagine how teams work, not just what they do. That means upskilling, redesigning workflows, and building trust by embedding responsible AI from day one.

Most Companies Are Playing Checkers in a Chess Game

18% of surveyed companies aren’t using AI agents at all, and their top excuse is the lack of clear use cases. PwC calls this a “failure of vision” — and they’re right.

Among companies that are using agents, value is snowballing:

• 57% use or plan to use them in customer service
  
• 54% in sales and marketing
  
• 53% in IT and cybersecurity
  

But — and it’s a big but — fewer than half are rethinking their operating models or redesigning processes to leverage agents at scale. Just 44% are creating new AI-powered products and services, even as 50% acknowledge that their operating model will be unrecognizable in two years because of agentic AI.

Leaders who get it are already moving fast, equipping junior employees with AI tools to match the output of seasoned pros, reallocating resources dynamically, and integrating agents into strategic planning. They’re building agent-powered businesses, not just bolting AI onto old systems.

The Question Isn’t If AI Agents Will Change Work, It’s Who Will Lead It?

Let’s be real, there’s no going back. AI agents are the most transformative workforce shift since the internet, and in many ways, even more profound. They’re not replacing humans, they’re redefining human potential.

But the biggest mistake companies can make now? Waiting. Watching. Piloting. Hoping. The ones who win will be those who lead with boldness, who rewire how work flows, and who design their future around a hybrid workforce of humans and intelligent agents.

The opportunity is massive, but only for those willing to get off the bench and into the arena.

About the survey: Between April 22 and April 28, 2025, PwC surveyed 308 US business executives with C-suite (33%), vice president (13%), and director-level (54%) roles across industries.