62%
#1 of 11
of organisations named security and risk concerns among the main obstacles to scaling agentic AI, ahead of technical limitations and regulatory uncertainty (38% each)
What the chart shows
Asked what stands in the way of fully scaled agentic AI, 62% of organisations in the AI Index and McKinsey survey named security and risk concerns, far more than any other obstacle. Technical limitations and regulatory uncertainty followed at 38% each, then gaps in responsible AI tooling and controls (36%).
Lack of executive support was named by 9%, fewer than the 14% who named it as an obstacle to implementing responsible AI measures in general (related chart). 1% said there were no obstacles.
Key numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Security and risk concerns | 61.7% |
| Technical limitations | 37.6% |
| Regulatory uncertainty | 37.6% |
| Gaps in RAI tooling and control | 36.0% |
| Lack of executive support | 8.5% |
| None | 0.9% |
How to read it
- Survey of business leaders by the AI Index and McKinsey & Company in 2024 and 2025, across several regions and industries; it has no respondents from China.
- Respondents could name several obstacles, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Source: McKinsey & Company Survey, 2025, via the AI Index Report 2026 (Stanford HAI), figure 3.3.10: Main obstacles to reaching fully scaled agentic AI, 2025. Chart and text by AI Adoption.
Numbers checked against the published data on 20 October 2026.
Download the data (CSV) · Cite this chart
Numbers checked against the published data on 20 October 2026.
Download the data (CSV) · Cite this chart
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