According to the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook, half of business leaders (50%) say artificial intelligence (AI) was the single biggest driver of productivity improvements at their companies over the past year. Yet many organizations have not translated those efficiency gains into measurable financial results, because day-to-day processes, workforce skills and investment decisions are not sufficiently aligned.
Survey details
- The EY-Parthenon study surveyed 1,200 senior executives across 21 countries.
- Nearly a quarter of CEOs (about 24%) reported that efficiency benefits are often eroded by organizational constraints.
- Only 16% of respondents can track the financial impact of their AI investments clearly and in real time, indicating a lack of measurement capability.
"AI is already capable of materially improving corporate efficiency, but that will not automatically translate into better business results. Leaders need to consider which processes to redesign, how to train colleagues properly, and where to allocate capital. The alignment of these elements determines whether AI investments truly pay off," said Vékási Tamás, CEO of EY Hungary.
Workforce skills: a growing barrier
The pace of digital transformation is increasingly determined by how prepared employees are to use new tools. Nearly half of CEOs believe their organizations are not developing the necessary skills quickly enough. Moreover, 72% expect that within three years a lack of appropriate skills could become a bigger constraint on growth than securing required financial resources.
Despite this, only 15% of leaders said their companies are reinvesting productivity gains into employee development. "AI should be seen not only as an innovation investment but as a driver of workforce transformation. Competitive advantage will increasingly concentrate with organizations that pair technological advances with targeted capability building," said Dr. Sefer Iván, partner at EY Hungary, national leader of EY-Parthenon and head attorney of EY Law.
Jobs will change, not necessarily disappear
Most executives do not expect mass job losses as a result of AI: eight out of ten respondents (80%) anticipate that over the next three years AI will mostly reshape roles and ways of working, while creating a need for new skills.
Conclusions
The survey highlights that AI can be a powerful productivity lever, but capturing real business value requires aligning organizational processes, improving measurement capabilities, and investing in workforce development. Companies that integrate technology adoption with targeted skills training and process redesign stand the best chance of converting efficiency improvements into financial returns.
Source: EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook (EY) — survey of 1,200 senior executives across 21 countries
