TRENDING
Over half( 55 %) of large enterprises reported they are consistently using the technology, up from 41 % last year, however, their use of AI remains surface-level, meaning they are focused on basic efficiency gains. In contrast, startups are integrating AI into the centre of their business strategy and using it to develop new products and services for their customers and transform their industries. 59 % of UK startups have adopted AI and 36 % said they’ re developing new AI-driven products and services, compared to 25 % of large enterprises.
Startups are also more likely to have developed a roadmap for realising the full benefits of AI adoption:
Tackling the barriers to AI adoption will be instrumental in helping all businesses across the UK to unlock the opportunity of AI.
31 % have a comprehensive AI strategy, compared to just 15 % of large enterprises. transformative benefits of AI. Given enterprises are responsible for 48 % of UK turnover, this could prevent the UK from fully realising the economic, productivity and competitive edge that AI can unlock.
Tackling barriers to deeper AI adoption
Tackling the barriers to AI adoption will be instrumental in helping all businesses across the UK to unlock the opportunity of AI. Businesses identified the digital skills gap as the biggest barrier to AI adoption – a gap which is continuing to widen. 38 % of businesses reported that access to digital skills is preventing them from adopting AI, up from 29 % of businesses surveyed last year.
Nearly half( 46 %) of UK businesses said that a lack of digital skills has slowed down their business, compared with 32 % of UK businesses surveyed last year.
This lack of digital skills is becoming more important, as the demand for AI literacy increases. Businesses stated that AI literacy is expected to be required in nearly half( 47 %) of new UK jobs in the next three years, yet only 27 % of UK businesses felt adequately prepared.
If this emerging gap is not addressed, there is a risk that a longtail of businesses, particularly large enterprises, may miss out on reaping the
UK businesses reported that it takes them, on average, 5.5 months to hire an employee with the sufficient level of digital skills, while 41 % of UK businesses said
22 INTELLIGENTCIO EUROPE www. intelligentcio. com