The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation
In the 2025 edition of the annual McKinsey Global Survey on AI, current trends driving real value from artificial intelligence are examined. This article is a collaborative effort by Alex Singla, Alexander Sukharevsky, Lareina Yee, Michael Chui, Bryce Hall, and Tara Balakrishnan from QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey.
Three years after the introduction of generative AI tools sparked a new phase in artificial intelligence, nearly 90% of survey participants report regular AI use in their organizations. However, progress remains uneven across different sectors and companies.
While AI tools are increasingly common, most organizations have not yet integrated them deeply enough into workflows and processes to achieve significant enterprise-wide benefits.
Survey Insights on AI Adoption
- The latest McKinsey Global Survey reveals a landscape defined by broader AI adoption, including the growing spread of agentic AI.
- Despite wider use, many organizations are still facing challenges in moving from pilot projects to scaled, impactful AI implementations.
- A larger share of respondents confirm AI use within their companies, yet scaling the technology remains a challenge.
- 88% of respondents say their organizations use AI regularly in at least one business function, up from 78% a year ago.
"The latest McKinsey Global Survey on the state of AI reveals a landscape defined by both wider use—including growing proliferation of agentic AI—and stubborn growing pains, with the transition from pilots to scaled impact remaining a work in progress at most organizations."
Conclusion
The survey highlights that while AI adoption is growing rapidly, many organizations still need to fully embed AI into their operations to realize its full potential.
Author's Summary
AI use is expanding across industries in 2025, but many organizations struggle to scale from pilots to full integration, limiting enterprise-wide benefits.