The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud opens up new and efficient ways for companies to do business. But few leaders are taking full advantage of agent AI tools to transform their cloud computing strategies, according to a new report from PwC.
“The cloud is the foundational layer that turns AI experimentation into enterprise-wide intelligence,” says PwC. 2025 EMEA Cloud Business Survey Said. Today’s leaders “must treat the cloud as a strategic platform, not just an infrastructure.”
AI is moving from the periphery to the core of enterprise cloud innovation, and agent AI is leading the way, the report says. But while most organizations (86%) see agent AI technology as the foundation for driving cloud decision-making and strategic planning, only 29% are currently implementing and scaling those tools.
Additionally, 38% are still in the early stages of piloting and testing these systems. According to the report, the top reason organizations are changing or planning to change their cloud infrastructure is to leverage AI capabilities (38%), followed by cost optimization (35%) and risk mitigation (31%).
When you combine cloud and agent AI solutions, the possibilities are vast. “The cloud provides the scale, connectivity, and computing power needed for agent AI, allowing organizations to deploy autonomous systems at scale and realize new efficiencies,” the report states. “Without the cloud, agent AI remains experimental, but with the cloud, it becomes enterprise-ready and scalable across geographies.”
PwC surveyed more than 1,400 business and technology leaders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa between June and September.
Costs are exceeding growth expectations
Cost constraints are one barrier preventing some companies from expanding their cloud platforms. “Organizations that are increasing their cloud spending are also those that expect the strongest revenue growth,” the report states. “However, many businesses still struggle to realize profitability as costs often exceed expectations.”
Despite cost concerns, investment momentum is growing. 86% of organizations plan to increase their cloud budget over the next year, rising to 73% in 2023. Leaders looking to drive and maintain sustainable cloud strategies need to grapple with managing the cost and complexity of those plans, the report says.
43% of leaders cite leveraging AI as one of their top cloud investment priorities over the next 12 months. However, the report notes that “enterprises that tie AI investments to their cloud strategies will not only adopt new tools, but also reimagine how they build business intelligence, decision-making, and resiliency for the future.”
Recommendations for leaders
PwC recommends four ways businesses can innovate their approach to cloud strategy to gain a competitive advantage.
Treat the cloud as the foundation of your corporate strategy. According to the report, the cloud serves as the digital backbone for innovation, customer experience, and market differentiation. By incorporating the cloud into their strategic plans, organizations can scale agent AI, connect ecosystems, and accelerate transformation.
Embed a robust governance model to reduce costs. “[Finance operations] “Frameworks and robust governance models ensure that agility does not come at the expense of control,” the report states, noting that balancing speed and discipline is essential to responsibly scale digital capabilities and ensure investments lead to measurable business outcomes.
Link your cloud and AI strategy. “The convergence of cloud and AI represents the next frontier for enterprise transformation,” the report states. Together, these tools enable organizations to automate complex processes, enable data-driven decision-making, and improve human performance.
Strengthen trust and build resilience. According to the report, trust is now the cornerstone of digital competitiveness. Building an architecture that protects data, ensures compliance, and supports operational continuity is essential to mitigating systemic risk.
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