Since generative artificial intelligence (generative AI, or GenAI) began gaining traction in the early 2020s, it’s gone from a media buzzword to a practical business tool. Whether used to refine marketing campaigns or suggest improvements to a product’s design, AI has proven useful in countless industries. With nearly 80% of businesses using AI in some capacity in 2024, the real question is no longer whether a company will use AI, but how it will do so.
At Qualtrics, we’ve been paying close attention to how this shift is unfolding, and as the technology continues to evolve, so does the way companies use it to stay ahead. With that in mind, today we’re looking at the many ways businesses are using AI in 2025.
Why businesses are turning to AI
AI is quickly becoming a standard tool in the business toolkit. According to AI statistics, in 2025, three out of four companies now regularly use AI for at least one function, a sharp increase from just two years ago. For example, nearly every Fortune 500 company (99% to be exact) has integrated AI into its hiring process, from screening applicants to predicting success in a role. At the employee level, AI is also used for professional development, with 83% of professionals using AI tools to learn new workplace skills.
Financially, the impact is even more tangible. Every dollar invested in generative AI now yields an average return of $3.70, with leading companies reporting returns up to 10 times that figure. With the AI market projected to surpass $1.3 trillion by 2032 and 92% of organizations planning to increase their investment over the next three years, it’s clear that people are putting their faith in AI to boost profits. As such, it’s fair to say AI is here to stay, and businesses that embrace it are seeing stronger performance and a clearer competitive edge.
Is AI profitable?
AI has proven useful in a variety of ways across different industries. In strategy and corporate finance, 70% of companies report increased revenue thanks to GenAI tools that analyze data faster and identify more innovative opportunities. On the mercantile side, supply chain teams are using AI to streamline inventory and logistics, and half of them already report cost reductions. Marketing and sales departments are also heavy users, with 42% of all businesses adopting GenAI for content creation, customer engagement, and automation. Even customer service has seen an explosive growth in AI adoption, increasing by over 2000% since January of 2025.
The creative side of AI is growing too. While AI may be able to replace certain tedious tasks, it is also becoming a sort of digital sounding board, used as an extension of how people think, work, and collaborate. About 63% of companies use GenAI to write text content, 36% to generate images, and 27% to assist with coding. Millennials, as the largest portion of the workforce, are leading the charge, with 90% feeling comfortable using AI at work and 81% eager to participate in designing AI tools themselves.
Global momentum and market leadership
AI business statistics show that artificial intelligence adoption is spreading rapidly across the world. There are now more than 70,000 AI companies globally, and the most successful startups are seeing an average of $3.48 million in revenue per employee, six times that of traditional SaaS firms. The United States reigns at the top, and in 2024 alone, U.S. private AI investment reached $109.1 billion. This level of investment is fueling innovation at a scale unmatched by any other nation, outpacing China and the United Kingdom’s spending by twelve and four times, respectively.
Nearly 90% of the world’s most notable AI models are the product of private industry rather than academia, demonstrating just how important businesses are in shaping AI innovation.
While large businesses like Nvidia, which recently became the first to exceed $5 trillion in market value, have become critical players, small businesses in the U.S. are also a part of the pie. About 89% now use AI in their daily operations, from managing finances to enhancing customer service. An additional 60% of small business owners who use AI say it has improved employee productivity and job satisfaction. While executives and senior managers remain the most active users, adoption among entry-level employees and interns is rising steadily as AI tools become more intuitive and accessible to regular users.
Viewed as a whole, these 2025 AI statistics reveal that this tech is becoming a part of the everyday rhythm of business. Rather than replacing the human touch, it’s being used to shape strategy, innovate, and deepen the connection between companies and their customers. The companies seeing the greatest success are those that use AI not just to automate, but to amplify existing human skills and talents.
If your organization is ready to put data to work with the latest in AI analytics technology, we can help. At Qualtrics, we empower businesses to use AI to understand, predict, and act with confidence. Contact us today to learn how your company can transform insights into intelligent action and improve brand experience.
