82% of Businesses Report Positive AI Impact
A global survey of over 1,200 businesses by insurance firm Gallagher found that 82% of respondents are experiencing positive impacts from AI adoption. However, the top challenges cited remain data protection, privacy concerns, and the risk of errors or inaccuracies from AI systems.
- A follow-up survey by Gallagher in late 2025 revealed that while 68% of business leaders still view AI as an opportunity, this is a decrease from 82% a year prior, with the percentage of leaders viewing it as a risk doubling to 11%. - The same 2025 survey identified a skills shortage and ethical considerations/data privacy as the top barriers to AI adoption, each cited by 30% of respondents. - Key concerns among businesses regarding AI implementation include AI errors or "hallucinations" (57%), legal and reputational risks from misuse (56%), and data protection and privacy violations (55%). - Despite concerns, AI adoption is growing, with 63% of businesses having operationalized or implemented AI in some capacity in early 2026, up from 45% in 2025. - Looking ahead, 83% of businesses believe that AI will be a driver of future revenue growth, and they anticipate it will take an average of 28 months to see a return on their AI investments. - From a consumer perspective, over 75% are worried about the potential for misinformation generated by AI. - The most common business functions where AI is being applied are IT operations, customer-facing roles, and analytics. - Businesses are actively preparing for AI's impact, with 46% having appointed an AI ethics officer to navigate the ethical considerations of the technology.
