Report on "2025 Economic and Industry Outlook by Global CEOs" Released
47% of Global CEOs Plan to Increase AI Investment Next Year
The proportion of global chief executive officers (CEOs) who have an optimistic outlook on the global economy has significantly increased.
According to Deloitte on the 19th, in the recent survey titled ‘2025 Economic and Industry Outlook According to Global CEOs,’ the percentage of CEOs optimistic about the global economy next year rose to 42%, approximately six times higher than this year’s 7%. Optimism about growth in their own industries also increased significantly from 40% this year to 61% next year, and the proportion optimistic about their own company’s growth potential reached 84%.
This positive outlook is interpreted to stem not only from cost reductions due to interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (FRB), easier capital procurement, and expanded investment opportunities, but also from expectations of corporate tax reductions and policies to activate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) anticipated with the inauguration of the Trump administration. Opinions that regulatory aspects will present more opportunities than risks over the next 12 months have also increased. On the other hand, domestic company CEOs held a predominantly pessimistic outlook.
Despite the optimism, global CEOs still identified geopolitical instability (60%), inflation (45%), and global regulations (30%) as major risk factors. In particular, concerns about inflation increased by 18 percentage points compared to 2024. This appears to be due to increased inflationary pressures caused by fiscal expansion policies and interest rate cuts in various countries.
CEOs expect the U.S. presidential election results to have the greatest impact on taxes (46%), regulations (46%), and international trade and tariffs (45%). They stated that they are preparing multifaceted response strategies, including risk management and contingency planning, as well as business operations and strategic realignment. Regarding investment strategies in China, adjustments are needed depending on changes in the Chinese government’s economic stimulus policies, but 56% of CEOs are maintaining their existing investment strategies toward China and continuing a cautious approach.
The increase in investment and development plans for generative AI was also noted as significant. In particular, there is a clear movement to expand the use of generative AI across overall business areas such as efficiency improvement, work automation, and cost reduction. Forty-seven percent of global CEOs said they will increase investments in AI and generative AI sectors in the future, an 18 percentage point increase from the previous year. The primary goals global CEOs focus on through the adoption of generative AI are reducing operating costs (51%), work automation (47%), and risk management (47%). Especially in the area of work automation, the adoption increase is expected to be the largest compared to the second half of 2024 forecast (28%).
On the other hand, interest in advanced technologies other than AI remains relatively low. Only 13% of CEOs expressed a positive stance on the potential of other technologies such as blockchain, metaverse, and quantum computing. Although Google recently raised interest in quantum computing by unveiling the quantum computer ‘Sycamore’ and quantum chip ‘Willow,’ the market is still analyzed to maintain a cautious investment stance.
Jongseong Hong, CEO of Deloitte Korea Group, said, “In this year-end survey, global CEOs view 2025 as a year of growth, innovation, and exploring new opportunities,” adding, “The most notable point is that they show a new optimism that regards the current situation of high uncertainty and complexity not as something to overcome but as a catalyst for innovation and growth.”
This report was prepared by Deloitte through surveys and in-depth interviews with 141 CEOs representing more than 20 industries over about three weeks immediately following the U.S. presidential election. The full report is available on the Deloitte website.
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