You couldn’t pass many days in 2025 without hearing about AI. So how will the tech affect CFOs in 2026? Glad you asked, because we were curious too, so we spoke with CFOs, CIOs, CAOs, and other leaders for their predictions. Three big takeaways: Expect AI to become even more embedded in workflows, be prepared to work more closely with CIOs, and get ready to shore up AI governance. Check out their thoughts below:

These quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

AI for strategy becomes mainstream:

“In 2026, CFOs are going to feel the impact of AI in a much more direct and measurable way. The biggest shift will be in how our teams spend their time: AI will surface insights faster, freeing up time to focus on strategic work…But the biggest impact for CFOs is that in 2026, they will be more accustomed to using AI for strategic impact, such as more accurately forecasting revenue outcomes. The companies treating AI as core to how they run the business are already pulling ahead.”

—Tim Riitters, CFO at Gong

AI’s ROI might not yet be apparent:

“One thing CFOs should keep top of mind heading into next year is managing expectations around AI ROI. Many companies have invested heavily in AI infrastructure, but we’re still in the foundational phase, building the enablement layer, establishing governance, and defining the right metrics to measure impact. There’s healthy pressure to show cost savings, but it’s still early innings. CFOs should resist the urge to cut AI investment simply because ROI isn’t yet fully provable; pulling back too soon could undermine long-term value creation.”

—Larry Roseman, CFO at Thumbtack

CFOs will need to take the reins of AI governance:

“With a regulatory landscape tightening and threats escalating, from sophisticated data injection attacks to runaway agents operating beyond their intended scope, 2026 will mark a turning point. CFOs must take an active role in AI governance. Although most view it as a technology ‘system,’ the necessary controls extend far beyond IT and cannot be managed by the CIO alone. They must take an active role in evaluating AI risk frameworks, approving guardrails, and ensuring governance processes are embedded into financial strategy.”

—Russ Blattner, CEO and cofounder of Superwise

We predict you will keep reading now.—CV

Generative AI didn’t just happen overnight, but for many, it probably feels like it did.

OpenAI introduced its new GenAI chatbot, ChatGPT, on Nov. 30, 2022—a watershed moment in the global economy and society at large. The corporate finance and accounting profession is certainly not an exception to the subsequent widespread transformation, which may only be getting started.

“You knew at the time it was going to be transformational,” Josh Schauer, CFO of insightsoftware, told us. “You immediately knew; it’s almost like when the internet came out and you’re like, this is going to change everything forever.”

Since then, AI has become the buzziest of buzzwords in corporate parlance. There’s been a rapid rise in corporate finance AI tools. Seemingly every SaaS company is promoting a shiny new AI feature. JPMorgan Chase recently noted that the amount of debt tied to AI has hit $1.2 trillion, making it the biggest segment in the investment-grade market, Bloomberg reported. A June RGP survey of finance leaders found that 42% of organizations were spending 10% or more of their capital budgets on AI. Of the 200 respondents, “84% said they’re optimistic about AI’s potential,” CFO Brew previously reported.

In the spring of 2023, not long after ChatGPT’s big intro, finance experts at Gartner presciently said that AI would shake up organizations’ funding priorities, CFO Brew reported.

“The idea is to really understand how the technology is going to impact your strategy going forward, staying strategic, and making sure you have good tactical people underneath you to execute on that vision and not get bogged down on ‘This lets me do this piece better,’” Alexander Bant, chief of CFO research at Gartner, said at the time.

An all-hands-on-deck moment. Schauer recalled that his first experience with ChatGPT mainly involved messing around with it to get a sense of its capabilities. “It felt like the world was all learning together in terms of, how are we going to be able to utilize this?” he said.

Keep reading.—AZ