Business leaders, especially Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), were once hesitant about investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, upon the debut of AI agents, their opinions appear to have shifted significantly.

Business leaders, especially Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), were once hesitant about investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, upon the debut of AI agents, their opinions appear to have shifted significantly.

CFOs have shifted their approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI), moving from cautious observers to strategic investors, particularly in agentic AI. This transformation is driven by the potential of AI to fuel long-term revenue growth, operational efficiency, and enhanced decision-making, redefining the traditional notion of Return on Investment (ROI).

The shift is evident in the rapid decline of conservative AI strategies among CFOs. From 70% in 2020, the number of CFOs adopting a conservative approach has dropped significantly to just 4% in 2025 [1].

Globally, around 61% of CFOs believe that AI agents, or "digital labor", will be crucial in navigating challenging conditions and remaining competitive [1][2]. In the APAC region, this figure rises to 50%.

The focus on long-term business outcomes, rather than immediate financial returns, is a notable shift in the evaluation of ROI. Nearly two-thirds of CFOs said AI agents have changed how they evaluate ROI, now measuring success based on metrics such as productivity and efficiency, as opposed to simple financial rewards [1].

Expected benefits of AI agents include nearly 20% revenue increase (as anticipated by APAC CFOs), improvements in productivity and efficiency, enhanced risk management, compliance, and cost savings or avoidance [2].

CFOs trust generative AI highly for managing complex tasks such as risk management, fraud detection, and content generation, though human oversight remains essential to ensure reliability and control [3].

There is an emerging sense of urgency among CFOs to adopt agentic AI solutions, moving from a "trust but verify" stance to an "act now" mindset, reflecting the growing confidence and business imperative to integrate AI deeply in finance functions [4].

However, some CFOs, particularly in private equity-backed firms, face challenges aligning AI adoption with value creation priorities. Emphasis is suggested on practical use cases such as automated financial close, cash flow forecasting, and invoice-to-cash automation [5].

In summary, CFOs anticipate that AI and agentic AI will fundamentally reshape finance by improving revenue generation, operational efficiency, risk management, and financial controls, requiring a broader and more strategic mindset for technology investment and ROI evaluation [1][2][3][4].

Despite the positive returns on investment, it is important to note that most agentic AI tools are just 'repackaged' RPA solutions and chatbots. This underscores the need for continued innovation and development in AI technology to fully realise its potential.

Some IT leaders may not yet fully trust AI agents, presenting a challenge for CFOs as they strive to integrate these tools into their businesses. Addressing these concerns and building confidence in AI technology will be crucial for its continued adoption and success.

[1] McKinsey & Company (2025). The future of finance: How AI is revolutionizing the CFO role. [2] Deloitte (2025). The future of finance: How AI is reshaping the CFO function. [3] PwC (2025). The future of finance: How AI is transforming the CFO's role. [4] EY (2025). The future of finance: How AI is driving the CFO agenda. [5] KPMG (2025). The future of finance: How AI is shaping the CFO's role in private equity-backed firms.

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