A global report compiled with IT leaders shows that most are betting on this technology for competitive gains, but still face challenges such as data privacy, integration, and information quality.
Cloudera, the only truly hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, releases the results of its new report, "The Future of Enterprise AI Agents." The survey surveyed at least 1,500 IT leaders from companies in 14 countries to understand adoption patterns, key use cases, and perceptions of AI agents. The data shows that 96% of respondents plan to expand the use of these agents in the next 12 months, and half intend to do so broadly across the organization. Top applications include performance optimization bots (66%), security monitoring agents (63%), and developer assistants (62%).
For business and technology leaders, AI agents mark a new era: more than traditional automation, they are systems capable of reasoning, acting, and adapting in real time. When well implemented, these intelligent agents promote operational agility, cost reduction, and significant improvements in customer experience. It's no coincidence that 831% of organizations state that investing in AI agents is essential to maintain market competitiveness.
Brazil also stands out globally in the survey, specifically when it comes to AI for retail. According to the report, the country is among the world leaders in the use of AI-based customer engagement strategies, alongside the United States and the United Kingdom.
"Brazilian retail has proven to be one of the most innovative in applying AI to transform the consumer experience, from personalization to intelligent service. This demonstrates not only the sector's digital maturity but also its willingness to invest in solutions that deliver real returns for the business,"says Rúbia Coimbra, Cloudera Vice President for Latin America.
In addition to highlighting the benefits, Cloudera's study answers the main questions about this type of technology:
- What is the current level of adoption? The majority (57%) of IT leaders have already implemented AI agents in the last two years — 21% in the last year alone — demonstrating a rapid pace of growth.
- How are companies adopting agents? Two-thirds (66%) are building agents on enterprise AI infrastructure platforms, while 60% leverage functionality already built into their core systems. This hybrid approach demonstrates a preference for scalable, secure, and data-centric deployments.
- What are the main obstacles? Data privacy (53%), integration with legacy systems (40%) and high implementation costs (39%) are the main barriers — all related to the need for robust and unified data management.
- Where to begin? Ideally, start with a high-impact, scope-controlled project—like an internal IT support agent. These quick-turnaround use cases help demonstrate ROI, build internal trust, and pave the way for larger-scale adoption.
"AI agents are no longer experimental and are already generating real automation, efficiency, and business results. We're seeing companies running hundreds of models in production, all requiring accurate, well-managed data to deliver value," he says. Abhas Ricky, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloudera. "In 2025, this technology is gaining prominence, going beyond generative AI and driving concrete operational impacts. Cloudera enables this transformation with a robust enterprise AI ecosystem, supporting global organizations in creating secure, scalable, and integrated workflows that turn data into action," concludes Ricky.
The research also identified the main uses of technology by sector:
- Financial services and insurance: Fraud detection (56%), risk assessment (44%), and investment advisory (38%) lead the way. Agents are flagging suspicious transactions in real time, simulating market scenarios, and supporting advisors with personalized suggestions.
- Industry: Process automation (49%), supply chain optimization (48%), and quality control (47%). Agents monitor production lines, adjust logistics routes, and eliminate repetitive tasks for greater efficiency.
- Health: Appointment scheduling (51%), diagnostic assistance (50%), and medical record processing (47%). Agents reduce administrative burden, organize medical data, and support physicians in identifying diseases via imaging.
- Telecommunications: Customer service bots (49%), customer experience agents (44%), and security monitoring (49%) are the main applications. These agents resolve service issues, identify at-risk customers, and protect networks from threats.
Download and read the full study by visiting the official website on here.
About Cloudera
THE Cloudera Cloudera is a hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI. With 100x more data under management than pure cloud vendors, Cloudera empowers global enterprises to transform all types of data—in public and private clouds—into trusted, valuable insights. Its open data lakehouse provides scalable, secure data management with cloud-native analytics, enabling customers to bring GenAI models to their data while preserving privacy and ensuring responsible AI. The world’s largest brands across industries such as finance, insurance, media, manufacturing, and government trust Cloudera to solve previously seemingly impossible challenges—today and in the future.
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