7 in 10 leaders think agentic AI will drive financial success, but only 40% think it should make financial decisions, finds Workday

7 in 10 Leaders Believe Agentic AI Will Boost Financial Success, Yet Only 40% Trust It With Financial Decisions

Organizations worldwide are increasingly embracing agentic AI, but adoption barriers remain, according to new research from Workday. UNLEASH explores these findings with Workday’s VP of AI, Kathy Pham, to understand how HR leaders can maximize the benefits of agentic AI.

Optimism and Adoption of Agentic AI

Workday surveyed 2,950 global leaders and found that fewer than 1% of organizations have no plans to use agentic AI. Key insights include:

• Only 27% believe agentic AI is overhyped.
• 88% expect AI to ease workloads and boost productivity.
• 75% are comfortable collaborating with AI agents.
• 82% recognize AI’s potential to drive innovation.
• 63% prefer to work for companies investing in AI agents.
• 71% believe AI agents will drive financial success.
• 56% anticipate a return on investment within six months.

Concerns and Challenges

Despite enthusiasm, leaders express significant concerns:
• 48% worry AI diminishes critical thinking skills.
• 36% fear AI erodes meaningful human interactions.
• 48% feel pressured to work faster due to AI.
• 44% cite ethics and governance as barriers.
• 39% are concerned about security and privacy.
• 30% fear misuse of AI technology.
These concerns contribute to hesitation in fully adopting agentic AI.

The Need for Clear Boundaries and Training

Workday’s data shows that while 75% of leaders accept AI as a teammate, only about one-third are comfortable being managed by AI. There is a strong desire for clear boundaries:
• Only 25% are comfortable with AI operating in the background without human knowledge.
• Just 40% trust AI to make financial decisions.
Kathy Pham emphasizes the importance of establishing guardrails:

“Employees trust AI more when companies set clear rules for its use. These guardrails create a safe environment that empowers employees to use AI effectively without fear.”

Pham also highlights the role of training:

“Trust in AI grows with use. Leaders must help employees learn how to leverage these tools effectively.”

HR leaders, in particular, should focus on redefining management roles by using AI to enhance—not replace—managers. AI can handle repetitive, data-heavy tasks such as gathering information for performance reviews, freeing managers to focus on meaningful coaching and personal connections.

“HR leaders should train managers to use AI tools to reduce administrative burdens, allowing more time for human-centered work.”

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Source: Originally published at UNLEASH on August 14, 2025.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About Agentic AI and Leadership Trust

Q: What is agentic AI? A: Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of performing tasks autonomously, making decisions, and taking actions to achieve specific goals without constant human intervention. Q: What percentage of leaders believe agentic AI will boost financial success? A: According to the Workday research, 71% of leaders believe AI agents will drive financial success. Q: What are the primary concerns leaders have about agentic AI? A: Key concerns include the potential for AI to diminish critical thinking skills (48%), erode human interactions (36%), increase pressure to work faster (48%), and issues related to ethics, governance, security, and privacy (44% and 39% respectively). There's also a fear of misuse of the technology (30%). Q: How comfortable are leaders with AI agents as teammates versus AI managers? A: While 75% of leaders are comfortable collaborating with AI agents as teammates, only about one-third are comfortable with AI managing them. This highlights a preference for clear boundaries and human oversight in management roles. Q: What is crucial for increasing employee trust in AI agents? A: Setting clear rules and boundaries for AI usage is vital for building trust. Additionally, providing effective training to help employees learn how to leverage these tools is essential for growing trust in AI. Q: How can HR leaders best utilize agentic AI? A: HR leaders can leverage agentic AI to automate repetitive, data-intensive tasks, such as gathering performance review data. This frees up managers to focus on human-centered activities like coaching and building relationships, thereby enhancing rather than replacing managerial roles.

Crypto Market AI's Take

The findings from Workday highlight a significant trend in the adoption of agentic AI across organizations, particularly its potential to drive financial success. This aligns with our perspective at Crypto Market AI, where we believe AI is fundamental to unlocking new levels of efficiency and insight, especially within the volatile cryptocurrency market. Our platform leverages advanced AI agents and algorithms for real-time market analysis, trading automation, and risk management, aiming to provide users with a sophisticated edge. Understanding the human element, as emphasized by Workday's research, is also crucial for us. We focus on developing user-friendly interfaces and providing clear explanations, ensuring that while our AI tools are powerful, they augment user decision-making rather than replace it entirely. For those interested in how AI can impact financial decision-making, exploring our AI-powered investment analysis tools can offer practical insights.

More to Read:

• The Future of AI in Finance: Predictions for 2025
• Understanding the Risks and Rewards of AI Trading Bots
• How AI is Revolutionizing Personal Finance and Budgeting