Adapt or Fall Behind: Majority of CFOs Say AI Will Be Essential to Finance Competitiveness by 2030

MindBridge survey reveals 80% of finance teams are already using AI, with leadership mandates and measurable ROI accelerating adoption

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey by MindBridge, the leader in AI-powered financial decision intelligence, reveals 80% of finance teams have moved beyond research and are now actively using AI across financial processes. The findings signal a major shift in how CFOs view AI: not as a futuristic tool, but as a strategic asset that drives performance, insight, and competitive advantage.

The survey, which polled finance executives from a wide range of industries, reveals a fast-maturing AI landscape in finance, where strategic mandates from CEOs and boards are now the primary drivers of adoption, and where measurable business value is being realized at scale.

That urgency is well-founded. Gartner estimates that poor decision-making leaks 3–8% of EBITDA annually—a figure 91% of respondents agree with, and 60% say they plan to use AI to address.

The survey uncovered several key trends shaping the future of financial operations:

• AI is a strategic priority, not a side project:
  • 49% say AI is a top strategic priority with active investment, while only 7% report that it’s not currently a focus.
• Leadership-led transformation:
  • 50% of AI initiatives are triggered by the CEO or board, not by IT or finance teams alone.
• Proven performance gains:
  • 83% report measurable improvements in efficiency, with 35% citing significant impact, such as faster decisions, cost savings, and better fraud detection.
• The ROI is real:
  • 77% report at least 5% in cost savings and 10% say they are achieving savings above 30%.
• The focus is intelligence:
  • 55% of CFOs say their top objective is better forecasting and decision-making, while 16% cite cost reduction as their primary driver.
• Biggest blockers to adoption:
  • High cost of implementation is the primary blocker (40%), while data quality, and cultural resistance also rank high.

“Finance leaders in the world of AI must ensure integrity in their numbers,” said Stephen DeWitt, CEO of MindBridge. “Organizations investing today will lead the future of finance.”

About the Survey

The 2025 MindBridge CFO AI Adoption Survey was conducted in July 2025 and collected responses from senior finance leaders across North America. Respondents represent public and private companies across multiple industries.

About MindBridge Analytics Inc.

MindBridge is the leader in AI-powered financial decision intelligence. The MindBridge platform empowers finance teams to analyze 100% of financial transactions in real time, enabling organizations to detect risk, surface anomalies, and optimize performance with greater speed and accuracy. At the core of the platform is the Central Insights Factory — a proprietary AI engine that transforms complex financial data into trusted, actionable insights. Trusted by auditors, finance leaders, and regulators around the world, MindBridge delivers transparent, explainable AI that strengthens internal controls, enhances compliance, and supports smarter financial decision-making.