Survey: 82% of Firms Report Positive AI Impact
A global survey of over 1,200 businesses by insurance brokerage Gallagher found that 82% of respondents are experiencing positive impacts from AI adoption. Despite the benefits, the survey identified data protection and the potential for errors as the top remaining challenges for companies implementing AI technologies.
- According to the Gallagher survey, 63% of businesses have now fully operationalized or implemented AI in some capacity, a significant increase from 45% in 2025. The primary areas of focus for these implementations are IT operations, analytics, and client-facing functions. - While a large majority of firms (93%) feel they understand AI risks "quite well" or "very well," top concerns include AI errors and misinformation (57%), legal and reputational risks from misuse (56%), and data protection violations (55%). - Businesses are actively trying to measure the return on their AI investments, with 63% tracking this metric and estimating it will take an average of 28 months to see a return. - A significant hurdle to successful AI adoption is the lack of skilled talent, with over half of the surveyed organizations reporting skills gaps and recruitment challenges. In response, 46% have appointed a dedicated AI ethics officer to navigate ethical considerations. - Other research shows that a majority of U.S. companies have adopted AI in some form, with one PwC report indicating 73% of firms have done so. Common applications across industries include customer service, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention. - Despite high adoption rates, many companies struggle to see concrete value, with one Boston Consulting Group study finding that 74% of companies have yet to realize tangible benefits from their AI initiatives. - Key implementation challenges cited in other studies include the high costs, uncertain ROI, poor data quality, and the complexity of integrating AI with older legacy systems. - Looking ahead, the global AI market is projected to grow significantly, with one forecast estimating it will reach over $1.8 trillion by 2030.
