Business UpdateJul 8, 2026, 05:04 AM
EXL Study: 75% UK Businesses Overestimate AI Progress
AI Summary
EXL's third annual UK Enterprise AI Study reveals a significant disconnect in AI adoption, with 75% of UK businesses believing they are ahead of competitors, but only 12% qualifying as 'AI Leaders' with substantial integration and ROI. The study, based on a survey of 212 C-suite executives, highlights data as the biggest challenge for 77% of respondents. While UK companies prioritize scaling AI, only 3% will receive incremental budgets, contrasting sharply with 60% in the U.S. Utility companies demonstrated the biggest returns on AI investments, averaging a 27% improvement in financial measures.
Key Highlights
- 75% of UK businesses believe they are ahead of competitors in AI integration.
- Only 12% of UK businesses qualify as 'AI Leaders' with significant company-wide AI integration and ROI.
- 77% of respondents cited data as their biggest challenge in using AI effectively.
- Only 3% of UK companies will receive incremental budget for scaling AI, compared to 60% in the U.S.
- UK utility companies saw an average 27% improvement in financial measures from AI investments.
- Insurers saw the smallest financial benefits from AI, averaging 18% returns.
Price Impact
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