Nearly 4 in 10 CFOs See Gen AI Paying Off Within Two Years

Nearly 4 in 10 CFOs See Gen AI Paying Off Within Two Years

CFOs have stopped treating generative artificial intelligence returns as one date circled on the calendar. By December, 39.1% expected very positive returns within one to two years, even as 26.1% expected the payoff to take six years or longer.

That split is the clearest sign that finance leaders are getting more practical about the technology. The PYMNTS Intelligence report “What Happens When CFOs Get Serious About Gen AI” found that CFOs at large U.S. companies are expanding gen AI across finance, reporting fewer drawbacks and adopting a more detailed view of return on investment. The findings come from a December survey of 60 CFOs at companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue.

The report also found that gen AI’s role expanded sharply in financial reporting, capital management and working capital optimization. Meanwhile, the average number of drawbacks cited by CFOs fell to 4.23 from 6.92. Errors, implementation trouble and maintenance costs all declined. Experience appears to be turning early friction into manageable operating work.

The remaining challenges are more focused. Skills shortages were cited by 78.3% of CFOs, data security and privacy by 70% and reliance on vendors by 46.7%. Those concerns point to the next stage of work: building talent, controls and vendor oversight around programs that are already producing results.

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