HumanX and HarrisX Unveil AI Adoption Survey of Thousands of U.S. Business Leaders, Exposing Key Trends, Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Enterprise

Commissioned by HumanX ahead of its March 2025 gathering, the study reveals the realities of AI strategy, regulation, and investment in sectors including finance, healthcare, cybersecurity, and more.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HumanX, the #1 conference for artificial intelligence (AI) leaders, today released the AI Adoption Index Survey in partnership with HarrisX, the nation’s most accurate pollster. This landmark survey of 1,059 U.S. business leaders across multiple verticals highlights the current state of AI adoption in the enterprise.

Consistent across all industries, executives are bullish on AI’s future, but the survey also reveals gaps in knowledge, strategy, and execution.

“This study is the first to expose the fears of leading executives about how AI is going to disrupt their organizations, the aspirations as those early-majority executives plot their course, and most strikingly, the factors that are contributing to the successes and failures of early AI deployments. Leaders who’ve reviewed the study are both nervous and hopeful that they now have data to use for their strategies and execution,” said Stefan Weitz, CEO of HumanX.

AI Gives and AI Takes Away.

81% believe AI will positively impact their work, but 30% express concerns about job displacement due to AI—showing both optimism and fear about AI's impact on even executive-level roles.

AI Adoption Outpaces Preparedness.

Despite the enthusiasm for AI, many organizations are still navigating how best to implement it. 75% of companies report having a dedicated AI strategy, while over 90% of business leaders ranked themselves in the top tier for AI knowledge—a red flag and sign of overconfidence when leaders can’t afford it.

Surge in AI Investment Expected Across Sectors.

The survey underscores the increasing financial commitment to AI across industries. Most leaders report spending 10-25% of their budgets on AI initiatives, and 37% of respondents expect their AI investments to grow significantly over the next three years, particularly in sectors like cybersecurity, infrastructure, and enterprise software, which are preparing for large-scale adoption.

Regulation is Top of Mind for Leaders.

As AI becomes more integral to businesses, regulation remains a significant concern. 70% of respondents support more oversight of AI technologies, with 33% favoring company-led regulation, while 32% believe multiple entities—companies, governments, and international organizations—should collaborate on AI governance. This highlights the need for clearer guidelines and multi-stakeholder approaches to ensure AI is developed and deployed responsibly.

Data Quality and Management are Key Priorities.

Ensuring that organizations have the right infrastructure in place to maximize AI’s potential is critical. 56% of business leaders are prioritizing improvements in data quality and management over the next year. Notably, finance and enterprise software sectors are leading in this investment, while healthcare lags behind, potentially risking its ability to keep pace with innovation.

AI Seen as a Game-Changer for Jobs and Productivity.

Business leaders are optimistic about AI’s role in enhancing productivity and job growth. 62% of respondents believe AI will significantly improve their ability to perform their roles, with two-thirds expecting earnings to increase due to AI-driven efficiencies. However, sectors like retail, cybersecurity, and entertainment are also grappling with concerns over job displacement as AI becomes more integrated into workflows.

These trends paint a complex picture of AI adoption: while the appetite for AI is strong, significant work remains to align strategy, execution, and data management with future business goals.

“These results paint a picture of leaders in transition — those who deeply understand their peers' and competitors’ successes and failures are the ones who will win the day, internally and externally. We’re excited to make access to this data available to those who can most use it,” said Dritan Nesho, CEO of HarrisX.

For business leaders who wish to have access to the full data set (over 150,000 data points), HarrisX and HumanX will soon be offering a subscription service, complete with a dynamic portal and an AI-agent to help leaders understand their competitors and themselves. More information can be found at harrisx.com/humanx.

HumanX will convene the world’s leading innovators, investors, pioneers and policy thinkers at the first annual HumanX conference in Las Vegas, March 10-13, 2025. This study is helping to shape the already robust agenda, allowing speakers and partners to ensure what is covered at HumanX is precisely what their audiences need to hear to remain competitive and agile with their AI strategy. Learn more about the conference here.