Wharton Finds 82% of Leaders Use Gen AI Weekly

A recent Wharton study shows just how quickly the Gen AI adoption has gone mainstream: 82% of enterprise leaders now use generative AI weekly, and nearly 50% use it daily.

The report, “Accountable Acceleration: Gen AI Fast-Tracks Into the Enterprise,” surveyed more than 800 enterprise decision-makers across the U.S. and charts a sharp shift from experimentation to execution. Nearly 75% of respondents say their organizations now track AI’s financial impact through structured ROI frameworks, and three in four already report positive returns on their generative AI investments. 88% expect spending to rise in the next 12 months. But as budgets climb, 43% of leaders warn of skill atrophy, signaling that talent and training, not tools, will define competitive advantage.

88% of enterprise leaders expect to increase AI spending in the next year, and 62% anticipate double-digit growth over the next 2–5 years. More than 80% expect these investments to pay off within 2–3 years, while 11% have already reallocated budgets from legacy programs into AI-proven initiatives.

While productivity remains the top driver of AI adoption, the study found a growing focus on innovation. About 31% of AI technology budgets are now being directed toward internal R&D projects, indicating that enterprises are preparing for the next wave of AI-driven products and services.

“As leaders across functional areas continue to increase investment in Gen AI, the overwhelming feedback is they are not only looking to use AI to boost employee productivity, which has become table stakes, but to integrate it effectively and responsibly into workflows to drive measurable ROI,” said Stefano Puntoni, Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School and Faculty Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research (WHAIR) in the report release.

72% of enterprise leaders now track metrics tied to profitability, throughput, or productivity, and 75% report positive returns on their initial investments. Leaders at the VP level and above are more confident in Gen AI’s financial impact, while middle managers remain cautious, citing training gaps and integration hurdles.

“Leaders are no longer content to run pilots. They want proof,” said Sonny Tambe, Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School and Faculty Co-Director of WHAIR in the release. “Gen AI is being held to the same standards as other major investments, and that is a sign of increasing maturity.”

The study suggests 2026 will mark a new stage from “accountable acceleration” to performance at scale. With adoption now mainstream, sustaining competitive advantage will depend on measurable results, standardized benchmarks, and trusted guardrails. “The next phase is not about adoption; it is about advantage,” said Jeremy Korst, Partner with GBK Collective said in the release. “The companies that thrive will be those that pair measurable ROI with responsible integration and build a culture where people have the skills to grow with AI.”

While public debate often centers on job loss, the study shows enterprise leaders are more concerned about readiness. 43% warn employees risk falling behind as AI tools evolve, even as 89% believe Gen AI augments work rather than replaces it. Nearly 49% of leaders say recruiting advanced Gen AI talent is their top challenge, followed by 41% who cite a lack of change management skills.

“The challenge isn’t replacement, it’s readiness,” said Puntoni. “Companies that invest in training, culture, and guardrails will be the ones that turn everyday AI into long-term advantage” he added further.

Finance teams are also deepening their AI capabilities. PYMNTS Intelligence found that 82% of enterprise CFOs are either actively using AI in their accounts payable functions or exploring its use. Thirty-eight percent are adopters, 43% are explorers, and only 18% remain skeptical. Among large enterprises with more than $10 billion in annual revenue, adoption rises to 75%.

Integration challenges remain. Nearly two-thirds of CFOs report difficulty embedding AI into existing systems, rising to 78% among goods-producing enterprises. Service organizations cite high upfront implementation costs, noted by 89%, while 44% of all respondents point to a lack of customization.

Still, the payoff is clear. Two-thirds of CFOs say AI has improved accounts payable transparency, with 78% of goods enterprises reporting greater visibility into vendor and supplier relationships. 61% say AI has improved analytics, and 57% report greater efficiency through fewer payment delays.

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