Finance CEOs Expect AI To Maintain Headcount

In EY's Quarterly CEO Outlook survey of 240 financial-services CEOs, 60% said AI investment will maintain or increase head count in 2026, while 28% predicted reductions. Nearly half of respondents named AI and digital investment as the most critical factor for company adaptability, and 76% of boards plan to review transformation ROI metrics as often as financial results, signaling rising scrutiny over AI spending.