More than three-fifths (61 per cent) of investors say technology will be the sector attracting the most investment over the next three years, well ahead of every other sector, according to PwC’s 2025 Global Investor Survey, published.

The survey of 1,074 investment professionals across 26 countries and territories found that technology was expected to be two to three times as likely to attract the most investment as the next three sectors. Asset and wealth management came in next at 25 per cent, followed by power and utilities (24 per cent) and banking and capital markets (19 per cent).

With technology racing ahead, investors also want to see the companies they invest in keep up—92 per cent are calling for increased capital allocation to technological transformation.

The overwhelming support for investment in technological transformation comes as investors see companies realising gains from AI adoption. Over the past year, investors report AI-driven improvements in productivity (86 per cent), profitability (71 per cent) and revenue gains (66 per cent) in the companies they invest in.

Off the back of these gains, more than three-quarters (78 per cent) say they would at least moderately increase their investment in companies pursuing enterprise-wide AI transformation.

However, investors are looking for more transparency to inform their decision-making; less than two-fifths (37 per cent) say companies disclose enough about AI strategies and policies.

Kazi Islam, Global Assurance Strategy and Growth Leader, PwC US, said:

“Investors are beginning to see tangible evidence of operational and financial gains from AI. 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.

Tech optimism belies sluggish overall growth outlook

Despite qualified enthusiasm for investment in technology, expectations of global growth are subdued amid a challenging macroeconomic environment—only 28 per cent expect moderate to significant improvement in global growth over the next year.

Zooming in from the global picture, investors believe the United States will be the most attractive destination for investment (67 per cent) over the next three years, ahead of India (45 per cent), Chinese Mainland (32 per cent), the United Kingdom (26 per cent) and the United Arab Emirates (26 per cent).

While the US is ranked most attractive, US-based investors themselves are less likely than their counterparts elsewhere to expect global growth, underscoring a cautious baseline that varies by market. 

Conservative expectations of growth can be partially explained by investors’ assessment of the threat landscape. More than half of respondents (55 per cent) describe high or extreme exposure to cyber risk at the companies they invest in or cover, and nearly as many (53 per cent) see the same in technological disruption. Inflation (44 per cent), macroeconomic volatility (43 per cent), and geopolitical conflict (42 per cent) are also weighing on sentiment.  

Business resilience and AI transparency as critical enablers

In an unpredictable landscape, investors are supporting companies that bolster their resilience, while making the most of tech-driven opportunities to deliver clear, transparent returns.

Investors support companies spending more on cybersecurity (88 per cent), business model agility (73 per cent), regulatory compliance (66 per cent) and supply chain management (64 per cent) to protect against key threats.

Business model agility is seen as a pathway to both resilience and growth. Roughly three-fourths (74 per cent) of respondents expect higher growth from companies that pursue opportunities across traditional sector boundaries. At the same time, 65 per cent see higher risk of disruption for companies that don’t.

The drive for resilience and growth extends to sustainability, with 84 per cent of investors noting companies should maintain or increase their investment in climate adaptation. At the same time, 61 per cent note they would at least moderately increase their own investment in companies using sustainability data for efficiency and performance.

Investors are also asking for more information about how management will deliver growth amid uncertainty. The biggest transparency asks are innovation strategies (47 per cent of respondents), AI returns and cost savings (42 per cent), AI investments (42 per cent), competitive position (37 per cent), and resilience strategies (29 per cent).

Nadja Picard, Global Reporting Leader, PwC Germany, said:

“The message from investors is clear – technology transformation remains the highway for growth, but resilience and transparency are the guardrails. Investors are rewarding companies that can scale innovation responsibly, with clear governance, measurable outcomes and credible plans to turn technology into lasting value.”