CHICAGO – The era of efficiency is over, and the growth race has begun. According to new research from Thoughtworks, a global technology consultancy that integrates design, engineering and AI to drive digital innovation, 77% of business leaders have shifted their AI strategies from cost savings to growth and innovation. Among large enterprises, the shift rises to 92%.

The research surveyed 3,500 IT decision-makers and C-suite leaders along with 3,500 consumers across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, Brazil, Singapore and Australia.

The results show that AI is rapidly moving from a back-office tool into a driver of top-line performance. Twenty-seven percent of executives globally expect up to 10% revenue growth from AI in the next year. Nearly half of global leaders expect AI to deliver more than 15% revenue uplift within a decade.

U.S. companies report the fewest failures but lag in transformation. Twenty-eight percent say they have never had an initiative fail, the highest rate globally and 12 points above the worldwide average, yet they show the least organizational transformation of any major market surveyed. 

Confidence is also comparatively low, with only 50% of U.S. firms believing they are ahead of peers, compared with 78% in India and 76% in Brazil. Job creation is weakest in the U.S. at 36%, compared with 57% in India and 50% in Brazil. American executives also report the lowest levels of competitive pressure, with just 49% feeling a fear of missing out, compared with 61% in Germany and 63% in India. Together, these findings suggest that organizations willing to experiment, fail and learn are pulling ahead, while those avoiding risk may be falling behind.

Agentic AI is also emerging as a clear dividing line in how fast regions are moving. Globally, 35% of leaders say agentic AI is now a top priority. India leads with 48.6%, followed by Singapore at 40.8% and the United Kingdom at 40%. Brazil sits at 28.2%, and the United States matches this at 28%.

“This marks a structural shift in how organizations plan for growth,” said Rachel Laycock, chief technology officer at Thoughtworks. “Leaders are no longer asking how efficient they can become. They are asking how expansive they can be. The organizations moving fastest are integrating AI into the core of how they operate.”

The research also shows a significant change inside boardrooms worldwide. More than half of surveyed companies now have a chief AI officer. Adoption of the role is highest in India and Brazil and lower in Australia and Germany, which lag the global average. Among organizations with a chief AI officer, 72% say the role holds budget authority and accountability for return on investment.

“The CAIO role is no longer experimental,” said Shayan Mohanty, chief AI officer at Thoughtworks. “It sits at the center of strategy. The companies that are separating from the pack are the ones that make AI part of their foundation rather than a side project.”

Consumers Remain Unconvinced

While business confidence is rising, many consumers remain unsure about how AI will affect their everyday lives. Twenty-one percent globally say AI will have no impact on them in the next five years. In the United Kingdom, this rises to 38%, and in the United States it reaches 32%. Skepticism is lower in markets like Brazil and India where consumers report higher exposure to AI-assisted services. Concerns also vary sharply across regions. Fear of misinformation is highest in the United States and United Kingdom, while demand for transparency is strongest in Brazil and India.

Despite these concerns, a majority of consumers report positive experiences with AI. Seventy-two percent say AI is adding value to their work or personal life. One-quarter say AI has helped them learn a new skill, and 13% say they have used AI to create a new income stream.

AI Reshapes Talent and Job Growth

The findings challenge common fears that AI will lead to widespread job loss. Globally, 84% of business leaders say AI is augmenting talent, not replacing it. Job creation varies strongly across markets. India leads with 57.1% of organizations reporting a net increase in roles created through human-AI collaboration. Brazil follows at 50%. The United States and Australia report 36% and 33%, respectively. Twenty-two percent of organizations globally say they have created new AI-driven career paths that did not exist before.