In just two-and-a-half years since generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) made its public debut, professionals in enabling functions like corporate tax, trade, legal, and risk and compliance and beyond have quickly shifted from feeling threatened by the technology to viewing it as an essential tool for handling the complex challenges they face daily. From increasing M&A activity and real-time reporting requirements to heightened regulatory volatility, these teams are being asked to do more with less, both in terms of budget constraints and talent shortages, and many now see AI as a potential solution to these problems.
According to Thomson Reuters new Future of Professionals Report 2025, 81% of these professionals believe that AI will have a high or transformational impact on their profession within the next five years. That’s not just speculation. More than half (54%) of corporate tax, trade, legal, and risk and compliance respondents say their companies are already experiencing at least one type of benefit from AI adoption.
Mind the Gap
In fact, professionals in large corporations are currently leading the way in AI adoption. For example, most corporate legal departments have invested in new AI tools in the past 12 months, compared to only 40% of law firms. It makes sense. While law firms still mainly bill by the hour and aren’t always incentivized to streamline their operations, corporate tax, trade, legal, and risk teams have historically been viewed as cost centers, making it a priority—especially in the current economic, regulatory, and geopolitical climate—to find ways to operate more efficiently and add value to the organization.
However, despite the current AI enthusiasm across corporate America, a significant divide is emerging between businesses seriously integrating AI into their operations and those merely talking about it. Notably, although 81% of surveyed corporate professionals expect AI to bring major changes to their profession in the next five years, only 48% anticipate seeing these changes this year. Another clear sign that AI optimism is outpacing actual progress in many companies is that just 19% of respondents reported having a formal AI strategy in place to support ongoing AI-related innovation across their departments.
Developing a Department-Specific AI Strategy
The strategy component of the AI equation is crucial. Looking deeper into the data, we see that, among the 19% of companies with an AI strategy for each specific department, 84% report already seeing a return on investment from AI. In contrast, of the 48% of companies that either lack department-specific AI plans or rely solely on a top-line, company-wide AI strategy, only 33% are currently experiencing a return on investment from their AI efforts.
This data supports what I observe daily when speaking with corporate executives about their current challenges. It’s easy to see the potential benefits of new AI-powered research, drafting, and workflow tools, but the real value of this technology can only be truly unlocked when these solutions are fully integrated into operational workflows. Successful corporate AI adoption is more than just using a new tool in isolation; it often requires redesigning legacy systems and processes to fully utilize the power of these new technologies across the organization.
An Integrated Approach to AI
That’s the next challenge facing corporations that want to fully leverage AI growth: reinventing workflows and rethinking old methods to become more strategic in supporting key functions within the business. Many are not doing this – or not doing it quickly enough.
As more companies adopt AI, those that fall behind will face a significant competitive disadvantage, and it’s not just about optimizing performance. The most effective AI integrations are those where frontline workers are informed, engaged, and well-trained. Today, 46% of professionals report substantial AI skills gaps within their teams, and 30% believe their companies are progressing too slowly in AI adoption. Companies with an AI strategy that involves leadership aware of every aspect will find it easier to attract talent and, consequently, build a strong AI foundation.