As part of their exploration, 52% of organizations are looking into AI agents, with 45% investigating multi-agent systems that could significantly transform enterprise processes.

The Deloitte AI Institute has released its fourth quarterly edition of the 'State of Generative AI in the Enterprise' report, which surveyed 2,773 leaders across 14 countries to assess the current landscape of generative AI.

Regulatory compliance has emerged as the primary barrier to the development and deployment of generative AI tools, with concerns increasing from 28% to 38% since the previous survey.

Despite these challenges, 78% of respondents plan to increase their AI spending in the upcoming fiscal year, indicating a shift from initial hype to practical application and testing of generative AI capabilities.

Organizations globally are exploring generative AI to add value, with many meeting or exceeding their return on investment (ROI) expectations, particularly in cybersecurity and IT.

Key areas of ROI from AI include enhancements in the software development lifecycle and customer service, especially within contact centers.

For long-term value, enterprises must strategically integrate generative AI into their existing operations rather than rushing to deploy new tools.

However, over two-thirds of organizations report that 30% or fewer of their generative AI experiments are likely to achieve full scale within the next three to six months, highlighting significant challenges in organizational change.

Currently, less than 40% of the workforce has access to generative AI tools, indicating a need for cultural shifts towards integrating AI into daily workflows.

Organizations typically require at least 12 months to overcome significant challenges related to generative AI adoption, including foundational issues like data governance and platform modernization.

Moreover, 69% of respondents believe that fully implementing a governance strategy will take over a year, emphasizing the need for strategic planning amid regulatory uncertainties.

Jim Rowan, head of AI at Deloitte, noted that the main benefits from AI usage are increased efficiency and cost savings, which are critical for organizations navigating this evolving landscape.