Workplace Insight | While over three quarters of UK businesses are now using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the vast majority are yet to see any return on their investments, according to a new poll.
A survey of 500 managers, directors, and C-suite executives within UK businesses found that 78% of the businesses polled are using AI in some capacity, rising to 85% for mid-sized organisations (100-to-249 employees), the highest of any group.
A further 14% are exploring their options or plan to implement AI in 2026, with 8% not using AI and having no plans to.
However, the research revealed that less than a third (31%) of the businesses using AI have seen a positive ROI from their investment in the technology. Almost a fifth (18%) said their projects have not delivered the benefits they expected, while 16% said it was too early to tell.
According to the survey, less than half (41%) of users have a clear idea of what “success” looks like when implementing AI solutions. Among mid-size businesses, the leading adopters of the tech, there remains a minority (46%) that say they can define success.
