7 in 10 Leaders Think Agentic AI Will Drive Financial Success, but Only 40% Think It Should Make Financial Decisions

Organizations worldwide are increasingly embracing agentic AI, yet concerns remain about its role in critical decision-making, according to new data from Workday. Workday surveyed 2,950 leaders globally and found that fewer than 1% of organizations have no plans to use agentic AI. Despite some skepticism, only 27% believe agentic AI is overhyped, while 88% expect AI to ease workloads and boost productivity.

Key Findings from the Workday Survey

• Comfort with AI Collaboration: Three in four leaders are comfortable teaming up with AI agents.
• Innovation and Talent Attraction: 82% see benefits around innovation, and 63% are more interested in working for companies investing in AI agents.
• Financial Impact: 71% believe AI agents will drive financial success, and 56% expect a return on investment within six months.

Concerns and Barriers

Despite optimism, leaders express concerns that are slowing AI adoption:
• 48% worry AI is destroying critical thinking skills.
• 36% feel AI erodes meaningful human interactions.
• 48% fear increased pressure to work faster due to AI.
• Ethical and governance challenges worry 44%.
• Security and privacy concerns affect 39%.
• Fear of AI misuse is cited by 30%.

The Need for Clear Boundaries

While 75% of leaders are comfortable with agentic AI as a teammate, only about one-third are comfortable being managed by AI. Leaders want clear boundaries on AI’s role, especially in sensitive areas.
• Only 25% are happy with AI operating in the background without human knowledge.
• Just 40% are comfortable with AI making financial decisions.
Kathy Pham, Workday’s VP of AI, emphasizes that trust in AI grows when companies establish clear rules for its use. "By creating these guardrails, leaders build a safe environment that empowers employees to use the tools effectively without fear," Pham says.

Role of HR Leaders in AI Adoption

Pham highlights the importance of training and redefining management roles:

"HR leaders should train managers to leverage AI tools to handle administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on meaningful, human-centered work like coaching and building personal connections."

AI can automate repetitive, data-heavy tasks such as gathering information for performance reviews, freeing managers to engage in activities only humans can do.

Conclusion

Agentic AI holds great promise for driving financial success and innovation. However, adoption depends on establishing clear ethical boundaries, addressing concerns around critical thinking and privacy, and empowering employees through training. Organizations that successfully integrate AI with human oversight and trust-building measures are poised to reap the full benefits of this transformative technology.

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Understanding Agentic AI

Q: What is agentic AI? A: Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and take actions towards achieving a goal, often without direct human intervention. Q: What are the key benefits of adopting agentic AI according to leaders? A: Leaders surveyed believe agentic AI will drive financial success, boost productivity, ease workloads, and foster innovation. Many are also more interested in working for companies investing in AI agents. Q: What are the primary concerns leaders have about agentic AI? A: Major concerns include the potential erosion of critical thinking skills, the reduction of meaningful human interactions, increased pressure to work faster, and ethical, governance, security, privacy, and misuse challenges. Q: What role do HR leaders play in the successful adoption of agentic AI? A: HR leaders are crucial for training managers to leverage AI tools for administrative tasks, enabling them to focus on human-centered work like coaching and building relationships. They also play a part in redefining management roles in an AI-augmented workplace. Q: How comfortable are leaders with AI making financial decisions? A: While 71% believe AI agents will drive financial success, only about 40% are comfortable with AI making financial decisions. This indicates a desire for human oversight in critical financial matters.

Crypto Market AI's Take

The findings from the Workday survey echo sentiments observed in the broader technological landscape, particularly concerning the integration of advanced AI like agentic AI. At Crypto Market AI, we understand the dual nature of such technologies: immense potential for efficiency and innovation, coupled with significant challenges related to trust, ethics, and human oversight. Our platform leverages AI to provide insightful market analysis and automated trading strategies, aiming to amplify human decision-making in the complex world of cryptocurrency. We believe that clear guardrails and a focus on augmenting human capabilities, rather than replacing them, are key to unlocking the true value of AI, whether in finance or other sectors. Explore our AI Agents for insights into how AI is being practically applied in market intelligence, and our AI Personal Finance section for a look at how AI can assist in broader financial planning.

More to Read:

• AI Agents: The Future of Business Automation and Customer Engagement
• How AI is Revolutionizing the Cryptocurrency Market
• Understanding the Risks and Rewards of AI in Finance