Core Insights - The study reveals that 97% of CFOs report their boards expect regular updates on AI investments, while 32% express concerns about the ROI uncertainty of AI projects [1][7][8] AI Investment Trends - AI spending is projected to increase significantly in 2026, with 83% of CFOs expecting a rise in AI investment across their organizations, and 80% anticipating increased spending specifically within finance [2] - Nearly 78% of CFOs forecast budget increases of up to 50% across their organizations, while 22% expect increases of more than 50% [3] CFO Leadership in AI Strategy - 75% of CFOs now lead their organization's AI strategy, compared to only 42% of CTOs/CIOs and 27% of CEOs [4] - While 67% of CFOs believe their AI strategy is ahead of the curve, only 35% report an excellent understanding of AI [4] Collaboration and Integration - 50% of CFOs report a more strategic relationship with the CTO/CIO, and 33% describe it as more collaborative, indicating deeper collaboration across the C-suite [5] - 57% of CFOs anticipate greater cross-functional collaboration as AI adoption within finance accelerates [5] Board Expectations and ROI Measurement - 54% of boards strongly support AI initiatives, with 40% being cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the importance of ROI [6][8] - 93% of CFOs believe their organization understands the ROI of current AI investments, but there is a split in their own views on the value of these investments [8] Current AI Application and Future Ambitions - Current AI applications are fragmented, primarily focused on financial close (66%), forecasting and planning (62%), compliance (54%), and reporting (45%) [10] - 61% of CFOs plan to apply AI to advanced decision-making tools for scenario modeling and financial forecasting, indicating a strategic vision for the future [13]