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Brazilian CFOs Boost Tech and AI Spending, Grant Thornton Survey Shows
A Grant Thornton survey of 232 chief financial officers (CFOs) in Brazil found that, despite a pessimistic economic outlook, 67% plan to increase investments in technology and digital transformation over the next 12 months. Only 37% of CFOs expressed optimism about the economy—the lowest level in the past five years—while 40% are pessimistic, citing persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, supply‑chain volatility and rising operating costs.
The study highlights a shift in the CFO role: finance leaders are now directly involved in decisions on innovation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI). Marco Aurélio Neves, senior partner at Grant Thornton, said the CFO has become a strategic partner in defining business strategy. While AI adoption moves from a speculative phase to a financial‑decision phase, many firms still lack clear metrics to assess AI’s return on investment, prompting a focus on governance and disciplined capital allocation.
A separate global McKinsey survey cited in the coverage reported that 85% of CFOs believe AI will generate insights that reduce manual analysis, and 83% expect significant productivity gains, underscoring the broader momentum toward AI‑driven finance functions.
Entities
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) · Grant Thornton · Marco Aurélio Neves · McKinsey & Company
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Marco Aurélio Neves said CFOs now directly participate in innovation, digital transformation, and AI decisions. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 67% of CFOs intend to increase technology and digital transformation investments in the next 12 months. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 85% of CFOs believe AI will generate insights that reduce manual analysis.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 83% of CFOs expect significant productivity gains from AI.
- [● 2 SOURCES] AI is transitioning from a speculative investment to a financial decision requiring ROI measurement and governance. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Only 37% of CFOs are optimistic about the economy, the lowest level in the last 20 quarters. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 40% of CFOs are pessimistic about the economic outlook. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The survey sampled 232 financial leaders. leianoticias.com.br · oglobo.globo.com