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# Only 8% of Firms Achieve True AI Transformation, Finds Protiviti’s Global Survey
- URL: https://www.theleftshift.com/only-8-of-firms-achieve-true-ai-transformation-finds-protivitis-global-survey/
- Published: 2025-08-14T09:56:32.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-14T09:56:32.000Z
- Description: Key barriers to progress include legacy system integration (cited by 30%) and poor data governance.
- Author: The Left Shift Bureau
- Tags: Research

Only 8% of global organisations have reached the “Transformation” stage of AI adoption, according to Protiviti’s inaugural AI Pulse Survey 2025\. The study, based on over 1,000 executives—including 176 C-suite leaders—reveals a striking maturity gap between AI ambition and execution.

While AI investment is gaining traction, 51% of organisations are still stuck in the early stages, experimenting with isolated pilots or evaluating use cases without scaling. Despite this, 85% of respondents report their AI investments are meeting or exceeding expectations, with nearly one in four seeing significantly higher returns than anticipated.

> “Our inaugural survey demonstrates that AI success is a complex evolution for businesses worldwide, requiring strategy, patience, and a willingness to rethink the fundamentals of business,” said [Sandeep Gupta](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeepsgupta/?ref=theleftshift.com), Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for India.

Tech and BFSI sectors lead global AI maturity—with 52% of tech companies in advanced stages—while manufacturing lags. Key barriers to progress include legacy system integration (cited by 30%) and poor data governance.

> “The early promise of AI will remain unfulfilled unless companies operationalize it at scale,” added[ Dhrubabrata Ghosh Dastidar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhrubabrata-ghosh-dastidar-9834b88/?ref=theleftshift.com), Managing Director, Protiviti India.

Protiviti urges businesses to align AI with core objectives, invest in data infrastructure, and move beyond pilots for real transformation.