Brazilian Businesses Face Challenges and Strategies in AI Integration for Transformation

A recent report by Deloitte reveals that only 34% of Brazilian companies are successfully advancing in their business transformation through artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting a significant gap between experimentation and full integration of AI into operational processes. While 37% of organizations use AI superficially without meaningful structural changes, 25% of business leaders have accelerated AI pilots into production, with 40% or more of AI experiments becoming operational. Igor Rikalo, president of o9 Solutions, stresses that successful AI adoption depends on clearly identifying organizational inefficiencies and leveraging sufficiently reliable data to achieve consistent results rather than waiting for perfect data. The report also points to the rising importance of neurosymbolic AI, which combines deep learning with organizational context, particularly in heavily regulated sectors.

Complementing these insights, Aécio Prado, president of the Brazilian Foundation of Accounting and the Federal Accounting Council (CFC), emphasizes the crucial role of continuous education and technology mastery in preparing professionals for AI-driven environments. Speaking on the #Podcast Saber Contábil em Movimento, Prado underlined that future accountants must develop a deep understanding of business, technology, and AI to remain relevant. He highlighted the CFC's Professional Education Program (PEPC) as essential for accountants, auditors, and public accountants to build managerial and analytical skills necessary for the evolving market and public sector demands. Prado also advocated for enhanced professional knowledge exchange among Portuguese-speaking countries to foster development and expertise.

Both industry leaders agree that while technology forms the foundation of AI transformation, the human element—particularly employee AI fluency and strategic skill development—remains central. Over half of business leaders (53%) prioritize increasing their workforce’s AI understanding to ensure successful AI adoption. Integrating AI seamlessly into existing processes and preparing professionals for strategic, AI-enabled roles are identified as key strategies for Brazilian businesses striving to leverage AI effectively.