Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming financial leadership worldwide, and CFOs in France are navigating the unique challenges and opportunities that come with its adoption. To gain deeper insights, Kyriba recently conducted a global CFO survey to understand how senior financial decision-makers perceive AI's impact on the financial sector, exploring its strategic benefits and the obstacles to integration.
In both the global and French CFO survey results, a prominent theme that emerges is a trust gap, the divide between optimism for the potential of AI-powered solutions and concerns over security and privacy risks. Despite these reservations, financial leaders acknowledge AI’s transformative power to redefine their roles and drive strategic value.
From hesitation to empowerment, here’s how AI is shaping the future of finance and redefining the role of financial leaders in France.
Key French CFO survey findings
CFOs highlight security concerns with AI adoption in finance: 82% of French CFOs report major concerns about security and privacy risks in AI, with issues like data leaks, accuracy, and regulatory compliance hindering confidence in adoption.
CFOs plan to embrace AI for strategic initiatives: French CFOs are leveraging AI-powered systems for high-level tasks such as strategic decision-making (30%) and investment analysis (29%), shifting its role from improving operational efficiency to empowering high-level decision-making.
AI drives evolution in financial leadership: AI is reshaping CFO roles, with 47% highlighting AI literacy as vital for future financial leaders to remain competitive.
Note: The global survey gathered insights from 1,000 CFOs at companies generating $100M+ in revenue, with 250 respondents from France. Many survey questions prompted respondents to select more than one answer. Due to rounding, percentages may not always appear to add up to 100%.
AI trends in France pinpoint obstacles to adoption
French trends in AI adoption reveal significant concerns about adopting and using AI in finance, with trust issues rooted in security, privacy, and ethical challenges. The distrust in AI solutions is understandable; however, with strong human oversight and the right safeguards, CFOs can use AI-powered solutions to improve treasury operations.
When asked to identify the biggest challenge related to adopting AI technologies in their finance departments, it’s clear that building trust in AI systems is a major hurdle to adoption. French CFOs stress security and ethics as their number one concern (31%), with allocation of resources (18%) and lack of internal support (17%) trailing by a considerable margin.
When considering AI use in their finance operations, 36% of French CFOs highlight security/leaking of confidential information as their top concern, followed by implementation (34%) and regulatory compliance (33%). Notable differences between the French findings and the global survey results include how accuracy and public perception are ranked. French CFOs rank public perception (26%) as a higher concern than accuracy (23%). In contrast, the global results rank accuracy as the second-highest issue, while public perception is rated the lowest.
Top French CFO concerns about AI use in finance
While the promise of AI is undeniable, these findings demonstrate a critical need for easy-to-implement AI systems built with security, transparency, and accountability at their core.
This perspective extends to broader organizational risks, with 82% of French financial leaders identifying security and privacy issues as a top external challenge, tied with interest rates (82%) and alongside inflation/cost of living (80%) and supply chain issues (80%).
These concerns highlight that CFOs are cautious about AI-specific risks while also viewing security as a broader organizational challenge. The consequences of this distrust are profound. If security and privacy concerns remain unaddressed, organizations may find it challenging to unlock AI's full potential.
Establishing trust through comprehensive security measures is crucial to bridging this gap. By adopting robust security protocols, CFOs can embrace AI with confidence, leveraging it to foster innovation, improve decision-making, and effectively manage the complexities of modern finance. Without these measures, the trust gap will persist, hindering AI adoption.
“AI-focused skills will empower finance professionals to confidently work with AI technologies and bridge the trust gap by ensuring decisions made by AI systems are transparent and understandable. … By combining human expertise with AI's analytical capabilities, organizations can make more informed decisions.”
--Morné Rossouw, Chief AI Officer, Kyriba
Explore the full interview in our global CFO survey.
Overcoming caution to embrace AI-powered solutions
While the challenges surrounding AI adoption in finance are significant, its potential to drive financial resilience and innovation is undeniable. Once CFOs can trust AI-powered systems, they can unlock many opportunities and benefits, such as greater operational efficiency, more accurate financial insights, and extra time to focus on strategic initiatives.
Despite pressing concerns, French CFOs are embracing AI’s potential:
95% prioritize AI integration in their business operations.
78% are leveraging AI in at least some of their financial decision-making processes, showing a more cautious approach than their global counterparts (86%).
83% feel at least somewhat prepared to adopt AI technologies in treasury and finance operations, slightly behind the global result (88%).
For French businesses, AI adoption is also progressing more gradually compared to the global trend. In France, 23% of CFOs intend to implement AI in their treasury and finance operations within the next year, compared to 36% worldwide.
These findings suggest that while French CFOs are adopting AI at a slower pace, those who act now have the opportunity to set the benchmark for financial leadership and inspire others to follow their example.
By leveraging the benefits of AI, businesses gain the agility needed to address external factors such as market volatility, inflation, tariff impacts, and geopolitical risks. And similar to their global counterparts, 37% of French CFOs are already using AI as the top tactic to navigate these external factors.
The French CFO survey results reveal increasing enthusiasm to leverage AI for improvements and innovations in financial operations. When asked what excites them about the potential of using AI in treasury and finance operations, French CFOs highlight:
What excites French CFOs about AI’s potential in finance
As organizations evolve to embrace AI-powered solutions, they stand to increasingly benefit from enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and compliance, while driving cost-effectiveness and revenue growth in financial operations.
The French survey findings send a clear message that CFOs increasingly see the value of leveraging AI to enhance decision-making and drive strategic growth. When asked how their organizations plan to use AI for treasury operations throughout 2025 and into 2026, French CFOs cite:
How French CFOs plan to use AI for treasury operations
The survey results indicate a shift in how CFOs perceive an AI-powered approach. Rather than viewing AI solely as a tool for basic automation and operational efficiency, the majority now see it as a driver for high-level strategic transformation. For organizations slow to adopt AI models, there is a clear risk of falling behind.
France aims to become an AI powerhouse
France has emerged as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), combining visionary policy with significant investments with the goal to make France an AI powerhouse. As part of the France 2030 initiative, the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence commits substantial funding to strengthen AI research, training, and innovation.
France's AI ecosystem demonstrates exceptional innovation and leadership, solidifying its position as a global and European leader in the field. Notable highlights include:
Ranked 3rd for research, training, and AI infrastructure in the 2023 Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Ranking.
Climbed to 5th place in the 2024 Global AI Index, up from 13th place in 2023.
Rated 3rd globally for the number of AI researchers, with more than 4,000 AI specialists in its research organizations.
Recognized as the leading hub for generative AI in Europe.
Hosts more than 1,000 AI startups in 2025.
Trains more than 40,000 students and professionals in AI each year.
Houses some of the largest computing centers in Europe.
France’s commitment to AI infrastructure and innovation has made it an attractive destination for foreign investments, with companies like Samsung and AI Redefined establishing operations in Paris. It has also attracted major global players like Meta, Microsoft, and Uber to establish or expand their AI research centers. By fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, France is advancing its AI capabilities and also ensuring its leadership in the global AI landscape.
AI-powered systems drive change for French CFOs
An important takeaway from the survey is AI’s role in reshaping CFO responsibilities. From automating repetitive tasks to enabling data-driven decision-making, AI-based solutions are redefining what it means to be a CFO.
“Traditionally focused on compliance and reporting, CFOs are now becoming strategic advisors. AI reduces transactional tasks, enabling us to interpret predictive insights and guide long-term strategies. The role is evolving from number-crunching to connecting data with broader organizational goals.”
--Adam Drew, CFO, Kyriba
Explore the full interview in our global CFO survey.
French CFOs view AI as the most significant driver of transformation in their roles over the next five years, with 34% expressing this belief. Workforce shifts (32%) and the frequency/impact of security incidents (32%) follow closely, which are tied for second place.
These results signal a growing recognition among financial leaders that AI-powered outcomes will be a pivotal force in shaping the future of financial leadership, driving innovation and redefining traditional roles to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economic environment.
French CFOs are also anticipating a future where AI literacy becomes a core skill, with 47% indicating that future financial leaders will need strong competencies in AI and technology to maintain a competitive advantage. Risk management (37%) and marketing/sales tactics (36%) rank as the second and third priorities, underscoring the significant emphasis placed on AI-specific skills.
These findings show that French financial leaders are prioritizing AI-specific skills as essential for staying competitive, highlighting a shift toward a more tech-savvy and strategically focused approach to financial leadership.
French trends in AI adoption balance growth and risk
AI-powered solutions are redefining financial leadership, offering French CFOs unprecedented opportunities to enhance decision-making, foster innovation, and elevate their roles beyond traditional boundaries. AI technologies are pushing financial leaders toward a future where operational efficiency is seamlessly paired with strategic influence. However, the success of this transition hinges on addressing trust gaps stemming from security, privacy, and accuracy concerns. By prioritizing robust ethical practices and implementing comprehensive safeguards, CFOs can unlock the true potential of AI in their operations.
French CFOs are setting an example of how to balance this strategic adoption with caution, ensuring AI becomes a driver of growth rather than a point of risk. By prioritizing AI-powered systems and integrating them into their long-term strategies, they are paving the way for a future where financial leadership is both technologically advanced and strategically focused. Businesses that follow their lead will gain a competitive edge and also drive meaningful transformation across their industries.
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