AI now seen as essential by European finance leaders

European financial services executives increasingly view artificial intelligence as a commercial necessity, with three-quarters warning of lost profitability or obsolescence if their firms do not keep pace, according to a Bloomberg survey.

The polling, which gathered responses from more than 300 senior decision-makers across European buy-side and sell-side firms, found that competitive pressure now sits at the centre of AI investment discussions. Nearly half of respondents said their firms risk losing market share if they fall behind in adoption.

The findings point to a sector that sees AI as mainstream rather than experimental. Only 6% of respondents said they believe AI is overhyped, suggesting that scepticism remains a minority view among the finance leaders surveyed.

Commercial pressure

Bloomberg said 75% of respondents cited direct loss of profitability or the risk of becoming obsolete as the biggest consequence of failing to keep pace with AI. The survey framed that view as evidence that AI has shifted from a discretionary technology spend to a competitive requirement.

Respondents did not present a uniform view on leadership in adoption. Bloomberg found that 37% described their organisations as moving with the industry rather than leading it. The result indicates a pragmatic stance, with firms watching peers closely while still planning further deployments.

The survey also asked respondents to assess outcomes from AI efforts already underway. Bloomberg said 40% reported measurable business benefits from AI deployments. Just 1% said they had seen negative outcomes.

Those figures indicate a generally positive experience base in the market, at least among the executives who took part. They also suggest that many organisations now expect AI initiatives to show results that decision-makers can track, rather than remaining confined to pilot programmes.

Agentic AI

A section of the research addressed expectations for "Agentic AI", a term used in the industry for systems that can take actions in pursuit of goals. Bloomberg found that 46% of respondents expect agentic AI to drive incremental automation in the next three years.

A further 37% anticipate far-reaching transformation of workflows and decision-making over that period. The split highlights a sector that agrees on broad direction but differs on the speed and depth of change likely to follow from the latest generation of AI tools.

The findings arrive as many financial institutions increase scrutiny of model risk, data controls and accountability for automated decisions. In Europe, regulatory requirements also differ across markets and product categories, creating uneven conditions for rollout between banking, investment management, market infrastructure and insurance.

Amanda Stent leads AI strategy and research within Bloomberg's CTO Office. They said firms now face an execution challenge that goes beyond early experimentation.

"Financial institutions clearly see AI as both a strategic necessity and a competitive differentiator. While firms are cautious about the speed and scale of change this technology is introducing, few doubt its potential for long-term impact or the measurable advantage it can deliver. The next phase will be defined by how effectively, not just how quickly, institutions can scale AI across their core operations while embedding the governance, controls, and accountability required for its responsible deployment," said Amanda Stent, Head of AI Strategy & Research in the CTO Office, Bloomberg.

Survey method

Bloomberg conducted the polling through live audience questionnaires at its events across Europe from September to November 2025. It said participants included more than 300 senior decision-makers from European financial services firms.

The events listed in the methodology included Bloomberg's Future of Finance series in Frankfurt, Milan, Luxembourg and Madrid. Bloomberg also ran polling at its Investment Management Summit in London.

Because the survey took place in event settings, respondents likely represent organisations already engaged in industry discussions about technology and market structure. The methodology does not specify a breakdown by country, firm size, or business line, and it does not provide details on how Bloomberg defined negative outcomes or measurable benefits.

Bloomberg AI work

Bloomberg said it has worked on AI in the finance domain since 2009. It cited machine learning, natural language processing, information retrieval, time-series analysis and generative models among the approaches it uses.

The company said it applies these tools to process and organise structured and unstructured financial information. It also said it is developing new ways for financial professionals and business leaders to derive intelligence from financial information and make business decisions.

The survey suggests the next stage of adoption in European finance will hinge on scaling beyond initial deployments, while leaders weigh operational change against control frameworks. Stent said the coming phase will depend on governance, controls and accountability alongside expansion across core operations.