Signal 57% of AI leaders cite data privacy as a top challenge against 44% of earlier-stage peers

Summary

Deloitte finds that data security concerns rank near the top of the obstacles finance teams face when implementing AI. Unusually, the worry grows with maturity rather than fading. Among AI leaders, those who have deployed AI, delivered value and integrated agents, 57% cite data privacy as a top challenge. Among peers earlier in their journey, the figure is 44%, a gap of 13 points. By contrast, early-stage teams are more troubled by legacy technology and unclear returns. The report explains that finance handles some of the organization's most sensitive data, so securing AI tools becomes critical as they spread into sensitive workflows.