The state of AI in 2025: Agents, innovation, and transformation

In the 2025 edition of the 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, and Michael Chui, with Bryce Hall and Tara Balakrishnan from QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey.

Widespread Adoption with Uneven Progress

Three years after the launch of generative AI tools sparked a new AI era, almost 90% of respondents say their organizations regularly use AI. Despite this widespread adoption, progress remains uneven. Although AI tools have become common, most organizations have not integrated them deeply enough into workflows to achieve significant enterprise-wide benefits.

Survey Findings on AI Usage and Impact

The latest McKinsey Global Survey reveals a landscape marked by both increased usage—including growth of autonomous AI agents—and persistent challenges.
The shift from pilot projects to scaled, impactful AI deployments is still underway in most companies.
88% of respondents state that their organizations use AI in at least one business function, up from 78% the previous year.

"Nearly nine out of ten survey respondents say their organizations are regularly using AI—but the pace of progress remains uneven."

"While AI tools are now commonplace, most organizations have not yet embedded them deeply enough into their workflows and processes to realize material enterprise-level benefits."

The data illustrates a growing interest and adoption of AI, though full-scale implementation and measurable impact often lag behind initial experimentation and pilot phases.

Author's Summary

Despite widespread use of AI across organizations, many have yet to deeply integrate these tools to achieve significant enterprise-level results, with scaling remaining a key challenge in 2025.

McKinsey & Company — 2025-11-05