NTT DATA’s latest Global GenAI Report, based on an expansive survey of two,307 executives across 34 countries, provides an in-depth take a look at how Generative AI (GenAI) is redefining business landscapes in 2025. With respondents spanning 12 industries—including automotive, banking, healthcare, and manufacturing—this report sheds light on the transformative potential and challenges of GenAI as organizations move beyond experimentation to integration. Covering global markets from North America to Asia-Pacific, the findings offer a transparent view of GenAI’s impact across strategy, workforce, technology, ethics, and sustainability.
GenAI Sentiment: Hype vs. Reality
A decisive 96% of C-suite executives see GenAI as a revolutionary technology with long-term potential, yet there’s some skepticism about immediate ROI. While nearly half of respondents remain cautious in regards to the immediate advantages, 68% express optimism about GenAI’s potential to rework industries. Notably, 97% of organizations are actively planning further investments, underscoring the shift from viewing GenAI as a “nice-to-have” to a critical strategic asset.
Strategic Transformation: Moving from Experimentation to Core Strategy
Considered one of the report’s most notable insights is the shift from fragmented experimentation to intentional, focused GenAI strategies. While 83% of respondents report having an outlined GenAI strategy, 49% have yet to align it fully with overall business goals. Key drivers motivating GenAI adoption include:
- Productivity Gains: Nearly all CEOs (96%) imagine that GenAI will boost productivity.
- Improved Compliance: 80% of organizations aim to boost process adherence and regulatory compliance through GenAI.
- Enhanced Customer and Worker Experiences: The highest focus areas for GenAI include personalized service, worker support, and improved compliance.
- Operational Efficiency: GenAI applications in automation and process improvements are a priority across sectors.
Industry-specific motivations vary, but many share a give attention to productivity, compliance, and experience optimization. As an example, automotive firms are prioritizing quality control, risk assessment, and automation, while banking and investment sectors give attention to risk management and fraud detection.
Constructing Dedicated GenAI Teams
Organizations investing in dedicated GenAI teams report significantly higher satisfaction with their AI efforts. Nearly 80% of respondents say they’ve either established or are constructing expert GenAI teams. Notably, those with established GenAI teams are 3 times more more likely to express satisfaction in comparison with those still in planning phases. The federal government, insurance, and life sciences sectors are leaders in constructing these expert teams, while education and retail have slower adoption rates. Firms are actively recognizing that expertise in GenAI is crucial for successful, scalable implementations.
Technological Challenges: Infrastructure Gaps and the Need for Cloud Solutions
Technological limitations, especially around legacy systems, present major hurdles. Outdated infrastructure is a notable obstacle, with 90% of respondents indicating that legacy systems are constraining their GenAI potential. Only 45% feel strongly that they currently have the mandatory infrastructure to support GenAI. Cloud solutions emerge because the favored approach, with 81% of respondents viewing them as essential for scalable, efficient GenAI applications. CIOs and CTOs are re-evaluating IT architectures, particularly edge and cloud computing, to maintain up with the increasing demands of GenAI.
Security and Ethical Concerns: Balancing Innovation with Responsibility
As GenAI grows more integrated into enterprise functions, ethical considerations and security risks have gotten top concerns. Security is a primary worry, with 89% of C-suite executives expressing concern in regards to the security risks related to GenAI. Only 45% report that their cybersecurity and GenAI strategies are fully aligned, highlighting a niche that firms must address to balance risk and innovation. Leadership accountability can be emerging as a priority, with 82% of respondents emphasizing the necessity for a named executive liable for GenAI ethics and governance.
Workforce Impact: Training and Upskilling within the Age of GenAI
A key challenge revealed within the report is a skills gap: two-thirds of organizations acknowledge that employees currently lack the abilities to completely leverage GenAI. To handle this, over half of the businesses surveyed are investing in GenAI-specific training. Notably, organizations investing in worker upskilling have reported substantial improvements in worker satisfaction and retention, with 93% stating that GenAI deployments have positively impacted these metrics.
When it comes to specific skill development, 64% of respondents highlight in-house GenAI development skills as a critical need, and top-performing organizations are actively constructing these competencies. Moreover, tools like predictive analytics, decision management systems, and AI-powered chatbots are amongst probably the most commonly planned GenAI solutions geared toward enhancing worker experience.
Sustainability and GenAI: Balancing Environmental Impact with Innovation
While GenAI brings productivity gains, its high resource demands often conflict with sustainability goals. In response to the report, three-quarters of respondents imagine that their GenAI goals are at odds with sustainability objectives, particularly on account of the energy-intensive nature of GenAI operations. Although 94% of respondents support using renewable energy sources for GenAI, 75% acknowledge a misalignment between GenAI and sustainability strategies. This conflict highlights the importance of finding environmentally responsible approaches to GenAI implementation, including energy-efficient data management practices.
Future Outlook: Small Language Models, Multimodal Approaches, and AI Agents
Looking ahead, the report indicates that GenAI’s next phase will involve small language models (SLMs) and multimodal AI approaches to refine decision-making and predictive accuracy. There may be a growing interest in “agentics,” a field where AI-driven agents tackle complex problem-solving tasks independently. Because the technology matures, organizations are specializing in developing GenAI applications that not only automate but in addition solve complex problems autonomously.
Key Recommendations for Organizations to Navigate the GenAI Landscape
To succeed with GenAI, NTT DATA recommends that organizations give attention to several key areas:
- Strategic Alignment: Be sure that GenAI strategies are fully integrated with overall business objectives.
- Infrastructure Modernization: Upgrade IT infrastructure to support scalable GenAI applications, particularly through cloud-native solutions.
- Workforce Development: Put money into training and upskilling to equip employees with GenAI capabilities.
- Ethics and Governance: Establish strong governance frameworks, including a dedicated GenAI ethics executive, to guide responsible AI use.
- Sustainability Goals: Align GenAI objectives with sustainability initiatives to make sure environmentally responsible use.
Conclusion
NTT DATA’s 2025 Global GenAI Report offers a comprehensive examination of how GenAI is reshaping industries worldwide. From addressing legacy infrastructure challenges and ethical considerations to closing skills gaps and aligning with sustainability, the findings underscore GenAI’s complex and transformative impact. For organizations seeking to leverage GenAI effectively, the main target must remain on integration, governance, and continual assessment of each the opportunities and challenges that this powerful technology presents.
