Deloitte Survey: 73% of UK CFOs Now Optimistic About AI

Photo Credit: Source: Reuters (Illustration).

 A Deloitte survey shows 73% of UK chief financial officers are now optimistic about artificial intelligence, marking the highest reading in the survey's recent comparisons. The data suggests that many large UK businesses are increasingly viewing AI as a practical business tool rather than only an emerging technology.

The Current Sentiment

The survey of 58 UK chief financial officers, conducted between July 1 and July 13, tracked a steady rise in confidence from 59% at the end of 2025 and 39% two years ago.

Snapshot of Financial Outlook:

• Geopolitical Concerns: The average rating on a scale of 0–100 fell to 68, down from 79 at the start of 2026.

• Energy Market Stability: Worries over energy prices and supply disruption dropped to 60, compared to 70 in the first quarter of 2026.

• Persistent Headwinds: Concerns regarding UK productivity and competitiveness remained stable at 63.

Economic Context

Debapratim De, Chief Economist at Deloitte UK, noted that the global economy has navigated the shock from the conflict in Iran with more resilience than some earlier expectations suggested. Despite the cooling of energy and geopolitical fears, De indicated that finance leaders are maintaining a disciplined approach to their balance sheets.

"Concerns over geopolitics and domestic competitiveness remain elevated," De explained. "CFOs continue to prioritise cost reduction and cash control in this environment".

Business Implications

For technology vendors, software providers, and enterprise AI companies, this growing CFO confidence could influence future investment priorities. While finance chiefs are balancing investment in AI with continued caution over broader economic conditions, the data suggests they are prioritizing efficiency and cash flow—moving away from purely speculative expansion toward pragmatic implementation.

Sources

• Primary reporting: Reuters

• Survey: Deloitte CFO Survey

• Fieldwork: July 1–13, 2026

• Sample: 58 CFOs

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-chief-financial-officers-turn-more-hopeful-about-ai-2026-07-19/