'AI Divide' | UK firms with clear AI strategies outperforming those without, Microsoft warns

An opportunity to boost the UK’s economy and improve its public services in the coming age of artificial intelligence could be at risk if too many organisations remain ‘stuck in neutral’ on AI,  according to new research commissioned by Microsoft.

The study, led by Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London, reveals that the highest performing businesses and most productive public sector organisations have a clear AI strategy in place and are preparing for the next wave of the technology – agentic AI.

However, the report describes an ‘AI divide’ emerging within the UK economy. Whilst half of organisations have a clear AI strategy and the skills to implement it, a similar proportion do not, which is a lost opportunity to boost economic growth and improve public services across the UK.

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The research, which is based on surveys with 1,480 UK senior leaders across public and private sectors, as well as 1,440 UK employees, found that more than half (54%) of leaders report that their organisation still lacks any formal AI strategy. Just 45% say their organisation understands the AI skills their workforce needs to be successful today, and half (50%) describe a gap between AI ambition and action within their organisations.