Survey: Generative AI Surpasses Cybersecurity in 2025 Tech Budgets

  • By John K. Waters
  • 05/13/25

Global IT leaders are placing bigger bets on generative artificial intelligence than cybersecurity in 2025, according to new research by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The AWS Generative AI Adoption Index, based on a survey of 3,739 senior IT decision-makers across nine countries, found that 45% of organizations are prioritizing generative AI in their tech budgets — compared to 30% for security. The study, conducted by global policy consultancy Access Partnership, surveyed industries including financial services, manufacturing, and retail in markets such as the U.S., India, Germany, and Brazil.

"The fact that nine out of 10 organizations are actively exploring or deploying generative AI means the technology is no longer emerging — it's becoming foundational," said Rahul Pathak, vice president for Data & AI Go-to-Market at AWS, in a statement. "And that momentum is accelerating."

Despite AI overtaking security in budget rankings, Pathak emphasized that cybersecurity remains deeply embedded in AI strategies, particularly in areas like data protection and responsible AI governance.

Scaling AI: From Experimentation to Integration

The study found that 90% of surveyed organizations are using generative AI tools, with nearly half moving beyond pilots into production environments. This shift reflects a growing confidence in the technology's ability to deliver real business outcomes — especially when blended with proprietary data and fine-tuned models.

Among the report's notable findings:

  • 60% of organizations have appointed a Chief AI Officer or equivalent, while another 26% plan to create such roles by 2026.
  • 44% have progressed past the testing phase, using generative AI in live workflows.
  • 92% of companies expect to hire for generative AI-related roles next year, while over half are investing in internal training programs.
  • A hybrid development approach is dominating, with 58% building on pre-trained models and 55% fine-tuning them with internal data.

Building AI Capabilities Through External Partnerships

The majority of organizations are also relying on outside expertise to implement AI successfully. Two-thirds plan to bring in vendors or partners to support deployments, underscoring the complexity of enterprise-scale AI adoption.

"It's not just AWS saying this," Pathak noted. "These are insights from nearly 4,000 IT leaders who are shaping the future of digital business."

The full report is available on the AWS site.

About the Author

John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS.  He can be reached at [email protected].

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