AI’s influence on innovation is no longer just a future promise. A staggering 41% of businesses have already restructured their R&D teams to better integrate according to Ayming’s 2025 International Innovation Barometer. This figure jumps to 52% among large companies, highlighting how the implementation of AI is reshaping organizational priorities. AI is the second-highest innovation priority for businesses worldwide, outranked only by the broader adoption of technology.
Budgets reflect AI’s growing importance
The widening intersection between technology and innovation is echoed in how companies are allocating their innovation budgets. Nearly half (47%) of businesses are dedicating between 6% and 20% of their innovation spending to AI research and development, while nearly a quarter (22%) are investing more than 20%. This shift is driven not just by tech giants like Microsoft and Google but by more accessible AI models like ChatGPT, which have democratized access to AI capabilities.AI as a Catalyst for Creativity and Collaboration
Far from being confined to process automation, AI is proving to be a potent tool for idea generation and broader data analysis. Over half of businesses (53%) are now using AI for data analysis to support innovation, while 43% are leveraging it to predict emerging trends, and 39% to generate new ideas. Only 26% view AI as merely an automation tool.
Faster innovation & greater ROI
Njy Rios, Director of R&D Incentives at Ayming UK, explains, “AI is not just about cutting costs and speeding up processes anymore. It’s evolving into a powerful enabler of human creativity and collaboration, augmenting rather than replacing human intelligence.”
The future of innovation, as outlined in the report, lies in hybrid models that combine AI’s analytical power with human creativity. This fusion is expected to shorten innovation cycles and drive faster time-to-market for new ideas.
As AI becomes more integrated into everyday business operations, companies can anticipate a significant reduction in the time it takes to bring innovations from concept to execution, delivering faster returns on investment.
AI for all business sizes
What once seemed reserved for tech titans is now available to businesses of all sizes. Thanks to the commoditization of AI, companies no longer need vast financial and human resources to develop AI from scratch. Instead, they can apply ready-made AI models to their unique business challenges, leveling the playing field and shifting the competitive advantage toward those who use AI most effectively.
Ayming’s 2025 International Innovation Barometer leaves little doubt—AI is already driving a new era of global innovation. With businesses across 17 countries and seven key industries investing heavily in AI-driven R&D, the innovation landscape is poised for rapid, transformative change. Those who harness AI not just for automation but for collaboration and creativity will lead the way in this new era of accelerated innovation.
