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Infosys Research: Addressing the AI Adoption Paradox: Executives are Confident in AI, But Employees Struggle with Implementation

Infosys released its new report, Leading in an AI World, which uncovers the biggest trends and priorities that will drive AI initiatives in 2025. The report revealed a stark reality facing many business leaders when it comes to AI adoption. While nine in ten executives (94 percent), express confidence in their understanding of AI, only 29 percent say their employees are very skilled in AI implementation. This contrast becomes particularly concerning given that 85 percent of organizations report AI influences their decision-making.

Infosys surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. senior executives to provide insights into organizational priorities, technology adoption and perceptions of AI. The report reveals the focus has shifted decisively from whether to adopt AI, to how to implement it effectively. Many organizations, however, may be moving forward without adequately preparing their workforce for this necessary transformation.

The report identified several key findings:

  • AI influences decision-making for the vast majority of respondents. The majority (88 percent) of respondents say AI influences their decision-making significantly, rising to 90 percent among large organizations and 97 percent among self-described leaders.
  • Extensive AI deployments are tied to stronger performance. Organizations with extensive AI deployments claim measurably stronger performance, showing double-digit differences in profitability, revenue growth and innovation compared to those with limited AI deployment.
  • Organizations should prioritize closing the AI skills gap. The significant disparity between executive confidence and workforce capabilities can be addressed with a focus on practical application training. Theoretical understanding alone is a top barrier to effective AI use.
  • Align AI investments with proven success patterns. As AI investment continues to grow, with seven in ten organizations planning to increase their AI spending in 2025, it's crucial to focus initial deployments on high-impact areas. These areas include enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations, driving innovation and leveraging data-driven insights. By building on the demonstrated success patterns of top-performing organizations, companies can maximize the effectiveness of their AI initiatives.
  • Workforce overreliance emerges as a top concern. Workforce overreliance is the top concern for a quarter of organizations implementing AI. Address workforce overreliance concerns through clear guidelines on AI use and implement robust data governance protocols, addressing the second-highest concern among AI users.

To view the full report, please visit here.