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 Think Agentic AI Will Drive Financial Success, But Only 40% Think It Should Make Financial Decisions, Finds Workday

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

Strong Optimism for Agentic AI

Fewer than 1% of organizations have no plans to use agentic AI, based on a survey of 2,950 global leaders by Workday. Key insights include:

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

Concerns and Challenges

Despite optimism, concerns persist:
• 48% worry AI is diminishing critical thinking skills.
• 36% feel AI erodes meaningful human interactions.
• 48% fear increased pressure to work faster due to AI.
• 44% cite ethics and governance challenges.
• 39% worry about security and privacy.
• 30% fear AI misuse.
These concerns create adoption barriers, limiting organizations from fully leveraging agentic AI.

Clear Boundaries Are Essential for Adoption

Workday's research highlights a desire for clear limits on AI's role at work:
• While 75% are comfortable with AI as a teammate, only about 33% are comfortable being managed by AI.
• Just 25% accept AI operating in the background without human knowledge.
• Only 40% are comfortable with AI making 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 empowering employees to use AI tools effectively without fear."

Pham also stresses the need for training:

"Trust in AI grows with usage, so leaders must help employees learn how to leverage these tools effectively. HR leaders should provide training to equip employees with the skills to navigate agentic AI."

Redefining Management Roles with AI

Pham advocates for using AI to enhance, not replace, managers:

"AI can handle repetitive, data-heavy tasks like gathering information for performance reviews, freeing managers to focus on meaningful coaching and building personal connections. HR leaders should train managers to use AI tools to reduce administrative burdens and spend more time on human-centered work."

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

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Agentic AI Adoption and Impact

Q: What is agentic AI? A: Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems designed to act autonomously and make decisions to achieve specific goals, often acting as digital agents or assistants. Q: What percentage of leaders believe agentic AI will drive financial success? A: According to the Workday survey, 71% of leaders expect AI agents to drive financial success for their organizations. Q: What are the primary concerns leaders have about adopting agentic AI? A: Key concerns include the potential diminiution of critical thinking skills (48%), erosion of human interaction (36%), increased pressure to work faster (48%), ethics and governance challenges (44%), security and privacy worries (39%), and fear of AI misuse (30%). Q: How comfortable are employees with collaborating with AI agents? A: A significant majority, 75%, of leaders surveyed are comfortable with employees collaborating with AI agents. Q: What are the key barriers to agentic AI adoption? A: The primary barriers stem from the concerns mentioned above, leading to limitations in how fully organizations can leverage agentic AI. Q: What is the general sentiment towards agentic AI being overhyped? A: Only 27% of leaders believe that agentic AI is overhyped, indicating a generally positive outlook on its potential. Q: How quickly do organizations anticipate a return on investment from agentic AI? A: 56% of organizations anticipate a return on investment from agentic AI within six months. Q: What are the differing comfort levels regarding AI as a teammate versus a manager? A: While 75% are comfortable with AI as a teammate, only about 33% are comfortable with AI managing them, highlighting a preference for AI as a collaborator rather than a supervisor. Q: Do employees trust AI more when clear rules are set? A: Yes, Kathy Pham emphasizes that employees trust AI more when companies establish clear guardrails for its use, creating a safe environment for effective tool utilization. Q: What is the role of training in agentic AI adoption? A: Training is crucial for fostering trust and effective use of AI tools. HR leaders should provide training to equip employees with the necessary skills to navigate agentic AI. Q: How can AI redefine management roles? A: AI can handle repetitive, data-intensive tasks for managers, allowing them to focus on coaching and building personal connections. HR leaders can train managers to leverage AI to reduce administrative burdens and prioritize human-centered work.

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Crypto Market AI's Take

The findings from Workday highlight a crucial duality in the perception of agentic AI: immense potential for financial success tempered by significant concerns about its autonomy and impact on human roles. This sentiment is mirrored in the evolving landscape of financial technology. As businesses integrate AI into their operations, the need for clear ethical guidelines, robust security, and comprehensive training becomes paramount. At Crypto Market AI, we are at the forefront of leveraging AI for financial success, particularly within the dynamic cryptocurrency market. Our platform offers advanced AI-powered trading bots and AI analysts that provide sophisticated market analysis and automated trading strategies. We understand the importance of human oversight and strategic decision-making, which is why our AI tools are designed to augment, not replace, human expertise. Explore our insights on AI Agents and their impact on business automation and discover how AI is transforming financial analysis, including in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency.

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More to Read:

• The Role of AI in Modern Cryptocurrency Trading
• Navigating the Risks and Rewards of AI in Finance
• Understanding Agentic AI: The Future of Autonomous Systems