AI investments surge, but agentic AI understanding and adoption lag behind

Agentic AI has vaulted from buzzword to board-approved budget line almost overnight, yet impact still lags intent. The EY US AI Pulse Survey shows many leaders racing to fund agentic AI initiatives, but far fewer have scaled them past pilots. That disconnect isn’t just lack of technology; it’s a strategy gap, too. In this third wave, we evaluate why enthusiasm outpaces execution, which barriers leaders are facing, and the strategic moves that could convert AI experiments into measurable value.