Core Insights - Finance leaders are increasingly confident about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their work, despite a stable adoption rate over the past year [1][2]. AI Adoption in Finance - According to Gartner's 2025 AI in Finance Survey, 59% of CFOs and senior finance leaders report that their teams use AI, a slight increase from 58% in the previous year [2]. - The adoption rate of AI in finance organizations was 37% in 2023, which more than doubled to 58% in 2024, but has now plateaued [3]. Confidence in AI - Over two-thirds (67%) of finance leaders express greater optimism about AI in 2025 compared to 2024, with the highest optimism among organizations further along in their AI adoption journey [4]. - Among advanced adopters, 23% feel "much more optimistic" about AI this year, while only 7% of early-stage adopters share this sentiment [4]. Practical Challenges and Experience - The slowdown in AI adoption is attributed to finance leaders facing practical challenges related to implementation, integration, and scaling [3]. - As teams gain hands-on experience with AI, the benefits become clearer, leading to increased reliability and quicker gains once production use begins [5]. Transition from Experimentation to Operational Use - It is crucial for finance leaders to transition from experimentation to real operational use of AI to realize its full potential [6].