TLDR: A recent Google Cloud study reveals that 52% of executives have deployed AI agents, leading to substantial business value, including consistent revenue growth and improved productivity. Early adopters are seeing even higher returns, with privacy and security emerging as a top concern for AI investment.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – September 4, 2025 – Google Cloud today announced the findings of its second-annual global study on the return on investment (ROI) of Artificial Intelligence, highlighting a rapid adoption of AI agents and a new wave of business value for organizations worldwide. The comprehensive ‘ROI of AI Study,’ commissioned by Google Cloud and conducted by National Research Group, surveyed 3,466 senior leaders from global enterprises across 24 countries that have deployed generative AI within their operations.
The study reveals that AI agents—specialized large language models (LLMs) capable of independent planning, reasoning, and task execution—are being rapidly integrated into organizations. A significant 52% of executives reported that their organizations are actively utilizing AI agents, with 39% indicating that their company has launched more than ten such agents.
A distinct group identified as ‘agentic AI early adopters,’ comprising 13% of the surveyed executives, are demonstrating a clear advantage. These leaders are dedicating at least 50% of their future AI budget to AI agents and have already deeply embedded these technologies across their operations. Notably, 88% of these early adopters report achieving ROI from generative AI on at least one use case, significantly higher than the 74% average across all organizations. These early adopters consistently show higher rates of ROI across various agentic AI use cases, including customer service and experience, marketing, security operations, cybersecurity, and software development.
Financial returns from generative AI remain robust and consistent with previous year’s findings. The study found that 74% of executives report achieving ROI within the first year of generative AI deployment. Furthermore, over half (56%) of executives state that generative AI has contributed to business growth. Among those reporting an increase in revenue, 53% estimate gains of 6-10%.
The top drivers for generative AI’s value-add were identified as productivity (70%), customer experience (63%), and business growth (56%). The report also noted an acceleration in the deployment cycle, with 51% of organizations now taking an AI application from idea to production within 3-6 months, an increase from 47% in 2024.
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As investment in AI continues to grow, the study highlighted a critical concern among executives: privacy and security when selecting LLM providers. This indicates a maturing market where trust and data protection are paramount considerations for future AI strategies.
