Explosive Growth, Then a Slowdown
The number of finance teams using AI jumped dramatically from 37% in 2023 to 58% in 2024, but moved up only one point to 59% in 2025. The gold rush for new AI tools has cooled because teams are moving from early experiments to taking time to make sure AI actually brings business value. Instead of rapidly adding new users, organizations are now more focused on getting solid results with what they have.
Confidence Builds With Experience
Even though adoption has flattened, current users of AI feel more confident than ever. Sixty-seven percent of leaders already using AI say they’re more optimistic about its value than last year. Organizations that have used AI longer are much more likely to believe in its potential: 23% of mature users feel “much more optimistic,” compared to just 7% of beginners. For rookies, AI’s potential might seem distant, but for experienced teams, the rewards are real and growing.
Not About Fear—It’s About Foundational Challenges
What’s holding back further AI growth? It’s not fear of technology. The Gartner survey revealed two key groups: 16% have no plans for AI, and 25% are stuck in the planning or pilot phase, held up by practical challenges. The biggest hurdles include not having people with the right technical or data skills and not having enough reliable data to feed the AI. These are basic challenges that need to be solved before AI can really deliver.
Most Common and Most Impactful Use Cases
Right now, the most common uses for AI in finance are:
Knowledge management (49% of departments use this)
Automating accounts payable (37%)
Detecting errors and anomalies (34%)
But when finance leaders were asked which use cases delivered the most impact, code generation stood out. Code generation lets teams create custom solutions for their unique needs, instead of just using standard AI for routine tasks. This shift allows finance teams to dig deeper and solve problems tailored specifically to their company.
Real Results Take Time
Most teams see only small improvements at first—91% of survey respondents reported low or moderate impact in the early stages. Lasting, meaningful gains often take patience and persistence. Companies further along in their AI journey are twice as likely to see moderate impact and nearly three times as likely to achieve high impact. Teams are reaping bigger rewards by sticking with it and upgrading their projects little by little.
From Hype to Reality
This plateau in AI adoption isn’t a failure; it’s a sign the finance industry is growing up. The rush to get on board has been replaced by the hard work of making AI truly useful, with challenges around data quality and team skills now top priority. If your organization can push through these hurdles, the payoff will be much bigger. Now, the name of the game is steady progress and real results—not just joining the trend.
Source: Gartner, Inc., "Gartner Survey Shows Finance AI Adoption Remains Steady in 2025," November 18, 2025.