IBM Study: Businesses View AI Agents as Essential, Not Just Experimental

Rhea-AI Summary

A new IBM Institute for Business Value study reveals enterprises are rapidly scaling AI-enabled workflows, with expected growth from 3% to 25% by end of 2025. The study, surveying 2,900 executives globally, shows 70% consider agentic AI crucial for their organization's future. Key findings indicate AI investment represents 12% of IT spend in 2024, expected to reach 20% by 2026. The top benefits of agentic AI include improved decision-making (69%), cost reduction through automation (67%), and competitive advantage (47%). Companies with an "AI-first" approach attribute over 50% of revenue growth and margin improvements to AI initiatives. However, challenges remain, with executives citing data concerns (49%), trust issues (46%), and skills shortages (42%) as adoption barriers. The study also reveals 64% of AI budgets are now allocated to core business functions, marking AI's evolution from experimental to strategic.

Positive

• Expected 8x growth in AI-enabled workflows from 3% to 25% by 2025
• 69% of executives report improved decision-making from agentic AI systems
• Companies with AI-first approach attribute 52% revenue growth and 54% margin improvements to AI
• AI investment expected to increase from 12% to 20% of IT spend by 2026
• 83% expect AI agents to improve process efficiency by 2026

Negative

• 49% of executives express concerns about data-related issues
• 46% report trust issues as barriers to AI adoption
• 42% cite skills shortages as implementation challenges

Insights

AI Industry Analyst

IBM's study shows enterprises rapidly adopting AI agents, with executives attributing significant business gains to AI implementation.

IBM's latest research reveals a dramatic shift in how businesses view artificial intelligence - no longer as experimental technology but as a core business necessity. The study of 2,900 global executives projects an 8x surge in AI-enabled workflows, jumping from just 3% today to 25% by end-2025.

What's particularly telling is where AI budgets are now flowing - 64% directed toward core business functions rather than peripheral experiments. This represents a fundamental shift in AI's role from innovation labs to mission-critical operations.

The data shows organizations are increasingly systematic in their AI approach. The proportion using ad-hoc AI implementation has plummeted from 19% to just 6%, indicating more strategic deployment. Meanwhile, companies with an "AI-first" approach report that AI initiatives drive over half of their revenue growth (52%) and operating margin improvements (54%).

The primary benefits driving adoption reveal AI's evolving business case:

• Improved decision-making (69% of executives)
• Cost reduction through automation (67%)
• Competitive advantage (47%)
• Scaled employee experience (44%)
• Improved talent retention (42%)

Despite enthusiasm, implementation barriers persist: data concerns (49%), trust issues (46%), and skills shortages (42%). This suggests opportunities for providers who can address these specific pain points.

The projected growth in AI investment is equally striking - executives expect AI to account for 20% of IT spend by 2026, up from 12% currently. This indicates substantial market expansion for AI services and solutions in the near term.

• Surveyed executives report anticipated 8x surge in AI-enabled workflows by 2025, with AI agents improving process efficiency, reducing costs, and changing workflows. 
• Respondents say that 64% of AI budgets are now spent on core business functions.
• Over two-thirds (69%) of executives surveyed say 'improved decision-making' is the number one benefit of agentic AI systems.

ARMONK, N.Y., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value reveals that enterprises are expected to significantly scale AI-enabled workflows, many driven by agentic AI, relying on them for improved decision making and automation.

The AI Projects to Profits study, which surveyed 2,900 executives globally, revealed that respondents expect AI-enabled workflows to grow from 3% today to 25% by the end of 2025. With 70% of surveyed executives indicating that agentic AI is important to their organization's future, the research suggests that many organizations are actively encouraging experimentation. 

As the pace of digital transformation accelerates, enterprises can turn to AI agents as the next evolution of intelligent automation. 83% of respondents say they expect AI agents to improve process efficiency and output by 2026, and 71% believe agents will autonomously adapt to changing workflows.

"We see more clients looking at agentic AI as the key to help them move past incremental productivity gains and actually gain business value from AI, especially when applied in their core processes like supply chain and HR," said Francesco Brenna, VP & Senior Partner, AI Integration Services, IBM Consulting. "This isn't about plugging an agent into an existing process and hoping for the best. It means re-architecting how the process is executed, redesigning the user experience, orchestrating agents end-to-end, and integrating the right data to provide context, memory, and intelligence throughout." 

These are the top five benefits of agentic AI systems that are driving adoption across industries, according to the report: 

1. Over two-thirds (69%) of executives surveyed say 'improved decision-making' is the number one benefit of agentic AI systems.
2. 67% of those surveyed cite 'cost reduction through automation' as a benefit.
3. Almost half (47%) of leaders surveyed indicate 'competitive advantage' as a top benefit of agentic AI systems.
4. 'Scaled employee experience' is cited as a top benefit, according to 44% of executives surveyed. 
5. 42% of those surveyed indicate that 'improved talent retention' is another major benefit to implementing agentic AI systems.

Though benefits were cited among those surveyed, concerns with agentic AI adoption are still present among leaders. Those surveyed indicate that concerns around data (49%), trust issues (46%) and skills shortages (42%) remain barriers to adoption for their organizations. 

Other key findings include: 

• Executives surveyed indicate that AI investment has grown to about 12% of IT spend in 2024. By 2026, the participants indicated they expect this number is to increase by over two-thirds to account for 20% of IT spend.
• Respondents say that 64% of AI budgets are now spent on core business functions, underscoring AI's move from an experimentation phase to an important part of business strategy.
• The proportion of surveyed organizations relying on an ad hoc approach to AI has declined from a reported 19% last year to just 6% today, indicating increased confidence and commitment to AI-driven transformation.
• One in four companies surveyed are already using an "AI-first" approach
  • Among those with an "AI-first" approach, respondents say they attribute more than half of their revenue growth (52%) and operating margin improvements (54%) to AI initiatives in the last 12 months

To view the full study, visit https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/agentic-ai-profits. 

Study Methodology:
The IBM Institute for Business Value study, in partnership with Oxford Economics, draws insights from two 2025 surveys: the "AI at the core survey" (2,500 executives across 18 industries and 19 regions) and the "Agentic AI pulse survey" (400 C-suite executives across 15 roles, 11 industries, and 6 countries). Survey questions explored AI's current role in business operations, including its impact on revenue, profitability, productivity, and resource efficiency. Further analysis was conducted to identify key relationships, trends and associations within the dataset. 

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM's thought leadership think tank, combines global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. 

Media Contact: 

Marisa Conway
IBM Corporate Communications
conwaym@us.ibm.com 

Kristen Shah
IBM Consulting Communications
Kristen.shah@Ibm.com

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SOURCE IBM

FAQ

What are the key findings of IBM's 2025 AI study?

The study found that AI-enabled workflows are expected to grow from 3% to 25% by 2025, with 69% of executives citing improved decision-making as the top benefit. AI investment is expected to reach 20% of IT spend by 2026.

How much are companies investing in AI according to IBM's research?

Companies are currently investing about 12% of IT spend in AI as of 2024, with expectations to increase to 20% by 2026. 64% of AI budgets are being spent on core business functions.

What are the main benefits of agentic AI systems according to IBM's study?

The top benefits are improved decision-making (69%), cost reduction through automation (67%), competitive advantage (47%), scaled employee experience (44%), and improved talent retention (42%).

What are the main challenges in adopting agentic AI according to IBM executives?

The main challenges include data-related concerns (49%), trust issues (46%), and skills shortages (42%).

How successful are AI-first companies according to IBM's research?

Companies with an AI-first approach attribute 52% of their revenue growth and 54% of operating margin improvements to AI initiatives in the last 12 months.