Bain & Company’s latest research shows that finance leaders are increasingly committing serious capital to artificial intelligence, with spending accelerating and benefits already emerging within finance teams.

In a global survey of more than 100 CFOs, 83% said they intend to raise company-wide AI investment by over 15% in the next two years, with a notable portion directed toward finance. Within that group, 42% expect their AI budgets to grow by at least 30% over the same period.

This upward trend is already evident in the short term. More than half of respondents are increasing AI spending by over 15% this year, while nearly 21% anticipate increases exceeding 30%. Over the coming year, most AI investment within finance will focus on financial planning, analysis, and reporting activities.

The survey sample includes a strong representation of large enterprises—half of the CFOs come from companies generating $5 billion or more in revenue, including 26 organizations with annual revenues above $10 billion.

According to Michael Heric, a partner at Bain & Company, finance leaders are at a critical inflection point. AI has moved beyond experimental use cases and is becoming central to finance operations. Meaningful investment in AI is now essential for improving productivity, managing risk, and influencing overall business performance.

The research also points to a clear relationship between the scale of AI adoption and the returns achieved. Among CFOs who have implemented AI broadly—whether through machine learning, generative AI, or autonomous agents—over 40% report high satisfaction with results. This compares to just 25% satisfaction among those still in pilot stages. Satisfaction levels rise above 60% for organizations with the most advanced AI capabilities, though overall satisfaction across all respondents stands at 31%.

While reducing costs and improving efficiency remain primary drivers for AI investment, CFOs identify speed as the most significant benefit. In a climate marked by economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges, AI enables finance teams to quickly detect risks, update forecasts, and redirect capital—offering a meaningful competitive edge.

Despite growing investment, most companies have yet to fully scale AI. Bain estimates that only 15% to 25% of CFOs have successfully expanded AI across their finance functions.

To turn AI investments into sustained performance gains, Bain outlines four key priorities for CFOs:

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Gary Duncan (London) — Email: gary.duncan@bain.com
Ann Lee (Singapore) — Email: ann.lee@bain.com  

Infosys, a leading provider of advanced digital services and consulting, has announced an expanded partnership with the University of Nottingham—ranked among the top 100 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with campuses across the UK, Malaysia, and China. The renewed collaboration aims to enhance the performance, security, and compliance of the university’s essential Student Management System.

Since beginning their partnership in 2017, Infosys has played a key role in transforming the university’s Student Information System. This transformation streamlined application workflows and strengthened compliance reporting, leading to a 70% drop in incidents, around a 30% improvement in system performance and availability, more than 35% reduction in infrastructure costs, and a significantly better user experience.

Under the extended agreement, Infosys will continue to support and maintain NottinghamHub, the university’s Student Information System, while improving core processes throughout the student lifecycle. The initiative will also include infrastructure modernisation to boost system uptime and reinforce web security through Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

To drive these advancements, Infosys will utilise its proprietary platforms, including Infosys Cobalt for accelerating cloud adoption and Infosys Topaz Fabric—an AI-driven, multi-layered ecosystem designed to integrate infrastructure, data, applications, and workflows. These technologies will help streamline operations, unify systems, and enable data-led decision-making, supporting a digital-first environment for over 46,000 students and 12,000 staff worldwide.

Chris Hunt, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Nottingham, stated that the strengthened partnership with Infosys will enhance the reliability, security, and innovation of the university’s digital ecosystem. He emphasised the importance of the Student Management System in supporting the entire student journey and noted that the collaboration will help elevate academic and operational standards.

Jo Simpson, Chief Revenue Officer at the University of Nottingham, highlighted that the extended partnership will not only improve digital infrastructure but also create more impactful learning experiences. She noted that the collaboration aligns Infosys’ industry expertise with the university’s applied learning programmes, offering students valuable exposure to real-world skills in engineering and digital technology.

Ashiss Kumar Dash, EVP and Global Head of Services at Infosys, expressed enthusiasm about strengthening the partnership. He noted that as universities face increasing complexity across global campuses and rising expectations from digitally native students, innovation is essential. He added that the collaboration, powered by Infosys Cobalt and Topaz Fabric, will help the University of Nottingham set new standards in leveraging technology to succeed in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.

Over the next 30 years, urbanization is expected to continue expanding globally. According to UN Habitat, the percentage of people living in cities will rise from 56% in 2021 to 68% by 2050. While this trend presents numerous challenges for city governments, services, and communities, it also creates opportunities to drive social innovation and strengthen urban economies.

Advanced technology solutions, powered by AI and data, can provide targeted insights to ensure resources are allocated efficiently. This represents a crucial call to action—leveraging AI to optimize decision-making and enhance urban sustainability.

At the start of 2024, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, IBM launched a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at making cities safer, more resilient, and more sustainable. From over 100 applications, five organizations were chosen to join the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, where they will work alongside IBM experts to develop AI-driven solutions that address critical urban challenges. These organizations were selected based on their strong community impact and innovative approaches to applying AI for urban resilience.

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator is a social innovation initiative that applies IBM’s hybrid cloud and AI technologies, along with expert collaboration, to scale nonprofit and governmental projects with economic and environmental impact. The program unfolds in two phases: the IBM Garage phase, which accelerates digital transformation, and the Development and Implementation phase, where IBM experts tailor technology solutions to project goals.

Additionally, EY teams will provide workshops and coaching to support the organizations in this cohort, helping them advance their mission of fostering sustainable and resilient cities.

Since its inception, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator has supported 20 organizations, committing $45 million toward initiatives that assist vulnerable populations worldwide. As of last year, IBM’s efforts in sustainable agriculture had directly benefited around 65,300 individuals, with an estimated 1.1 million more expected to benefit from clean energy projects. The resilient cities cohort is anticipated to positively impact thousands more across the globe.

IBM remains committed to harnessing AI’s potential to tackle urban challenges, empowering both people and organizations to create thriving, sustainable cities. Those interested in applying for the latest RFP on AI for Sustainable Consumption and Production are encouraged to participate.

Click here to apply for the program.