Organizations with defined AI strategies are twice as likely to see revenue growth, according to Thomson Reuters’ 2025 Future of Professionals global report.
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| Thomson Reuters finds that firms with formal AI strategies gain revenue and efficiency, while others risk falling behind in the global race for AI-driven value. Image: CH |
Toronto, Canada — June 27, 2025:
Thomson Reuters has released its 2025 Future of Professionals report, offering a global snapshot of how AI is reshaping professional services. The findings reveal a growing divide between organizations that have implemented a formal AI strategy and those that have not. According to the report, firms with a visible and structured approach to AI are twice as likely to report revenue growth and 3.5 times more likely to experience critical business benefits compared to those without any significant AI adoption plan.
Despite these gains, only 22 percent of professionals say their organizations have a clearly defined AI strategy. This gap suggests that many businesses may be forfeiting the competitive advantage that comes with purposeful AI integration. Without a roadmap that aligns AI investments with business priorities, these organizations risk falling behind.
The report, which draws on responses from 2,275 professionals across the legal, tax, accounting, compliance, and global trade sectors, underscores that AI is not a distant disruptor—it is already influencing workflows and returns. While 80 percent of respondents believe AI will have a high or transformational impact on their professions within the next five years, only 38 percent expect meaningful change in their own organizations within the next year. Nonetheless, more than half of surveyed professionals said their organizations are already seeing returns on investment from AI initiatives, with productivity and efficiency being the most frequently cited outcomes.
Professionals predict that AI usage will save them an average of five hours per week in 2025, up from four hours in 2024. This enhanced efficiency translates into roughly $19,000 in annual value per professional. In the United States alone, these time savings could generate a $32 billion annual impact for the legal and CPA sectors combined. Yet the path forward is not without friction. Thirty percent of professionals believe their organizations are moving too slowly on AI, and forty percent say their firms are adopting AI tools without a coherent strategy in place.
Beyond productivity, the report reflects the shifting identity of the modern professional. Fifty-five percent of respondents reported significant changes in their work within the past year or expect such changes soon. Nearly half report gaps in team skills—especially in data and technology—and 88 percent express support for having AI assistants tailored to their specific professions, indicating a clear desire for tools that understand the nuances of specialized work.
Steve Hasker, President and CEO of Thomson Reuters, emphasized the urgency of strategic AI planning. “Professional work is now being shaped by AI, and those who fail to adapt risk being left behind,” he said. “There is a $32 billion value opportunity in the U.S. market alone. The time to act is now.”
In response to this shifting landscape, Thomson Reuters is investing $200 million annually to build and deploy responsible, professional-grade AI across its platforms. This includes the development of agentic AI capabilities, rigorous AI governance frameworks, and continuous training for its 26,000 global employees. With more than 30 years of experience in machine learning and 125 years of editorial and professional expertise, the company is focused on delivering trustworthy, secure generative AI solutions for professionals.
To read the full report, visit: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/c/future-of-professionals