Majority of investors expect companies to show AI gains within 12 months
Big techs spend huge amounts on developing AI. A new survey shows that over 60% of investors expect that companies now will deliver productivity, revenue and profitability gains from generative AI within the next 12 months. Investors see the importance of investing in people alongside technology, with 74% expecting companies to increase investment in upskilling, the survey from consultancy PwC shows.
Investors are as likely to expect AI to lead to headcount increases (32%) as decreases (32%).
Investors are cautiously optimistic about the economy: 51% expect the economy to grow over the next 12 months.
“Investors continue to eye climate action, with 64% urging companies to moderately or significantly increase their investment to reduce carbon emissions”, the report says.
“73% of investors say companies should deploy AI solutions at scale, as overwhelmingly 66% expect the companies they invest in to deliver productivity increases from AI over the next 12 months, with 63% expecting revenue increases and 62% expecting it to increase profitability.”
The survey comprises 345 investors and analysts across 24 countries and territories,
The report says investors see technological change as the most significant driver of change for the businesses they invest in (71%), ahead of government regulation (64%), changes in customer preference (61%), and supply chain instability (60%).
“Investors expect to see real outcomes from GenAI over the next year and recognize that achieving this will take investment in people and upskilling, as well as technology”, says Wes Bricker, Global Assurance Leader, PwC US
“Management can expect scrutiny on how they deliver AI productivity gains and support for an approach that extends beyond the tech itself to reinvent the way businesses operate.”
51% expect the economy to grow over the next 12 months, with macroeconomic and inflationary concerns falling from their 2022 highs (respectively, from 62% to 34% in 2024, and 67% to 31%).
“At the same time, investors’ greatest concerns are cyber risks (36%) and geopolitical conflict (36%), both of which are largely unchanged over the last two years but have slightly risen from 2023”, PwC reports.
86% agree that the ability of a company to manage through a crisis is an important factor in their investment decision-making.
60% of investors believe it is also very or extremely important that companies re-think their business models in response to supply chain instability – and 68% say they should increase their investment to de-risk them.
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