AI is transforming finance, CFOs say. Here's how

Artificial intelligence (AI) is both an opportunity and a challenge for businesses worldwide, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025.

AI is rapidly reshaping the role of chief financial officers (CFOs), offering unprecedented opportunities in automation, data analytics and risk management.

But its adoption also comes with challenges as it raises concerns about cybersecurity, regulatory complexities and workforce displacement, creating issues for CFOs as they work to balance investments in AI with risk management strategies to ensure sustainable growth.

To gain a better understanding of how financial leaders are approaching AI, the World Economic Forum asked six CFOs from different industries and regions to share their perspectives.

“CFOs have evolved to be not only financial stewards, but also strategic drivers of sustainable, financial and digital transformation. They are navigating heightened stakeholder demands for transparency, increasingly complex disclosure requirements, and a growing talent gap.

"More often, CFOs and their finance, sustainability, audit, risk, and legal teams find that investing in secure, practical, and responsible AI to transform organizational processes and enhance collaboration, can strengthen stakeholder and investor confidence" – Jill Klindt, EVP, Chief Financial Officer, Workiva

“In large-scale organizations, AI and automation are no longer just efficiency tools— they are fundamental to financial resilience, operational agility and customer-centric innovation. The ability to harness data, automate decision-making and personalize experiences at scale is a key differentiator in today’s landscape.

"Businesses that strategically invest in AI will not only optimize performance but also future proof their operations, ensuring long-term competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy" – Ziad Chalhoub, Chief Financial Officer at Majid Al Futtaim

"Over the past two years, AI has become a priority for CFOs. My insights: AI integration is essential in corporate strategy, CFOs should ensure positive return of investments from AI, and interdisciplinary teams should cultivate AI expertise.

"Every leader, including CFOs, must champion AI and understand the systemic risks of generative AI in finance" – Kalin Anev Janse, Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Management Board of the European Stability Mechanism

“AI has huge potential for finance functions, but to be meaningful, it requires significant investment, e.g. in data readiness and a balanced cyber-security posture.

"At QIA, we are exploring pilot projects with clear metrics to help quantify the return on investment (ROI) on AI investments, including looking at adoption rates, data processing speed, value creation and employee productivity – the success of these pilots will help guide us in our AI journey” – Niall Byrne, CFO at Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)

“AI investments are focused on the long-term value of a company. When AI is applied strategically and with discipline, it reduces costs, drives innovation and productivity, unlocks new revenue streams, and flows through the profit and loss with better operating income and earnings per share. For a CFO, there’s no better measure of ROI” – Yvonne McGill, CFO, Dell Technologies.

“With AI enhancing cybersecurity and automating financial transactions, cyber attackers can also exploit these advancements to create more opportunities for fraud, such as executing phishing schemes or manipulating transaction data. Finding the right pace to adopt AI is essential to harness its benefits while mitigating potential risks" – Julian Lee, Executive Director, Finance at the Airport Authority Hong Kong

CFOs must balance sustainability mandates, invest in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, and adapt to shifting economic and geopolitical landscapes.

From environmental, social and governance concerns to capital markets, they face both short-term pressures – like geopolitical tensions and interest rates – and long-term imperatives, such as AI and tech investments.

Across industries, CFOs view AI as a strategic asset shaping the future of finance. The key takeaways from these leaders are clear:

The World Economic Forum’s Chief Financial Officers Community is actively engaging more than 100+ CFOs on how to leverage this technology, among others, to enhance financial decision-making, streamline processes and unlock new avenues for growth.

Together, they are working on designing and developing a financial system that effectively allocates capital and investment in support of planet, people and communities – and that includes by incorporating AI.