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A new study found GenAI use rose from 12% to 22% among professional firms. (Photo: Freedomz/Shutterstock)
Generative AI (GenAI) adoption across professional services has nearly doubled over the past year, according to a 2025 industry report by Thomson Reuters. The study, which surveyed close to 1,800 professionals across legal, tax, accounting, corporate risk, and public sector roles globally, found that organisational usage grew from 12% in 2024 to 22% in 2025.
The report indicates that firms must now align GenAI adoption with structured implementation strategies. As automation becomes more prevalent, organisations are evaluating internal policies, training frameworks, and delivery models to meet client expectations and regulatory standards.
“GenAI is transforming business by breaking down silos and cutting through information overload,” said Thomson Reuters corporates segment president Laura Clayton McDonnell. “It is an essential tool for enhancing efficiency and decision-making.”
Thomson Reuters’s report found that while 89% of corporate professionals identified use cases for GenAI, 64% reported receiving no formal training. This gap points to a disconnect between recognising potential and enabling practical application.
The most marked increase in adoption was observed in the tax and accounting sector. The report found that 71% of tax professionals support daily use of the technology, up from 52% a year earlier. Organisational use in this sector also rose from 8% to 21%.
Among corporate tax professionals, 75% now back the use of GenAI, compared to 60% last year. In contrast, one-third of professionals in legal and corporate risk functions remain uncertain about its role in their fields.
Clients are also shaping adoption. While 77% of tax firm clients expect their providers to use GenAI, 59% said they were unaware whether it was currently in use. Reported applications include tax research (77%), return preparation (63%), and advisory services (62%).
In the legal sector, 26% of professionals said their firms were using GenAI, up from 14% in 2024. A further 45% indicated current or planned integration into core workflows within a year.
While 89% of legal professionals acknowledged the potential usefulness of GenAI, opinions varied. The report found that 10% viewed the technology as a potential risk to revenue, while half saw it as a tool that could support their work.
Law firms were reported to favour secure, verifiable GenAI systems that provide explainable outputs and protect confidentiality, particularly for legal research and contract analysis.
Broader corporate sentiment and readiness
Corporate professionals across legal, tax, and risk roles showed widespread agreement on GenAI’s relevance. The report found that 90% of corporate legal professionals, 92% in corporate tax, and 88% in corporate risk considered the technology applicable to their work.
However, GenAI skills are not yet a hiring priority. Respondents said such skills were seen as beneficial but not essential, indicating that most firms have yet to embed AI competencies into recruitment strategies.
The report also pointed to persistent training gaps. Despite growing awareness of GenAI’s functionality, the lack of structured instruction continues to limit broader adoption and may slow future operational deployment.
Looking ahead, 95% of respondents expect GenAI to become integral to their organisation’s workflow within five years. However, many firms have yet to develop consistent plans or governance models to support this transition.
