Continuing a pattern of years, investors around the world are eyeing the technology sector to fuel enterprise growth, but patience with opaque AI strategies may be running thin, according to new data from PwC.

The consulting firm’s 2025 Global Investor Survey, which polled more than 1,000 investment professionals across 26 countries, found more than three-fifths (61%) think that technology will remain the most attractive sector for their investment over the next three years, with asset and wealth management coming a distant second (25%).

Added to that, the rapid advance of emerging technologies has led investors to push hard to keep up. Almost all (92%) want the companies in their portfolio to ramp up capital allocation for tech transformation projects, while 88% are calling for greater investment in cybersecurity.

This overwhelming support for investment in digital transformation is being driven by the realisation of gains from years-long AI strategies. 

Over the twelve months, investors report AI-driven improvements in productivity (86%), profitability (71%) and revenue gains (66%) in the companies they’ve invested in, leading more than three-quarters (78%) to say they would consider moderately increasing their investment in firms pursuing enterprise-wide AI projects.

However, investors are looking for more transparency to inform their decision-making. Less than two-fifths (37%) say the companies they’ve bought into disclose enough about AI strategies and policies, while almost half (42%) want more information on potential AI investments.

Facing an unpredictable landscape, PwC found that investors are looking for certainty, and are also demanding transparency around innovation strategies (47%), AI returns and cost savings (42%), competitive positions (37%), and resilience strategies (29%).

“Investors are beginning to see tangible evidence of operational and financial gains from AI,” said Kazi Islam, global assurance strategy and growth leader for PwC US.

“While investors understand AI returns require upfront capital, they expect discipline: decision-useful metrics, credible governance, and evidence that AI reshapes cost curves, productivity, and revenue safely and repeatably.”

According to the report, this desire for clarity is being driven by investors’ assessment of the threat landscape. More than half (55%) describe high or extreme exposure to cyber risk at the companies they invest in or cover, and nearly as many (53%) see the same in technological disruption.  

This has led investors to support companies focused on bolstering their resilience, while still making the most of tech-driven opportunities.

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PwC found that, as well as encouraging more cybersecurity spending, investors want their portfolio firms to commit to business model agility (73%), regulatory compliance (66%) and supply chain management (64%) to protect against key threats. 

Agile-first strategies are also viewed as a potential pathway for growth, with three-quarters (74%) of investors predicting higher growth for firms that pursue opportunities across traditional boundaries, while 65% see higher risk of disruption for those that don’t.

“The message from investors is clear – technology transformation remains the highway for growth, but resilience and transparency are the guardrails,” said Nadja Picard, global reporting leader for PwC Germany.

“Investors are rewarding companies that can scale innovation responsibly, with clear governance, measurable outcomes and credible plans to turn technology into lasting value.