January 2026
The gap between perception and reality
From the boardroom, AI usage can appear well managed. Policies exist, strategies are signed off, and progress appears deliberate. But beneath the confidence projected publicly, there is uncertainty, inconsistency, and growing anxiety about what is really happening inside organisations.
The people setting the rules are also the ones most likely to break them.
We surveyed over 2,000 UK tech workers to find out what’s really happening. The results challenge almost everything leadership teams think they know about AI readiness, risk, and capability.
The headlines
- 27% of frontline staff trust C-suite AI expertise
- 50% expect AI will cause job losses at their company within three years
- 93% of C-level leaders say AI-informed decisions have been made using inaccurate data
Why this matters for your organisation
Your financial performance will suffer
Two-thirds of tech workers have seen AI cause a mistake at their company. Bad data in, bad decisions out. Most outputs aren’t being checked before they’re used.
Your talent pipeline will weaken
Half your workforce expects AI to cost jobs. Anxious people disengage. Unsupported people leave. In a talent-short market, that’s expensive.
Your credibility will erode
When AI decisions go wrong, the tool isn’t accountable. The leader who relied on it is. And most organisations still can’t say who’s responsible.
What’s inside the whitepaper
This 24-page report provides a comprehensive picture of AI usage across UK workplaces, based on independent research with 2,020 tech workers.
You’ll discover:
- The real state of AI adoption across different seniority levels
- Why senior leaders are the biggest AI risk-takers
- The gap between what leadership sees and what the workforce experiences
- Why 80% of C-suite executives believe they need a dedicated AI specialist at board level
- What needs fixing across leadership, strategy, governance, and skills
- Five practical actions you can take today
“This report explores what is really happening inside UK workplaces, where the most material hazards are emerging, and what leaders need to address now. The organisations that succeed will be those that listen carefully, confront the reality beneath the headlines, and take action before the risks compound.” – Ollie Whiting, Group CEO
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