By Rebecca Gibson |
More than eight in ten (84 per cent) of senior business decision-makers are confident the UK can become a world leading AI economy within five years, according to a new Microsoft survey.
Censuswide surveyed 1,000 senior business decision-makers and 5,000 employees on behalf of Microsoft, finding that nine in ten business leaders already have a clear AI strategy. In addition, 84 per cent of those already implementing AI say it has moderately or significantly changed the way their organisation works.
However, only 41 per cent of surveyed employees believe the UK can become an AI leader by 2031. While 71 per cent acknowledge that AI has positively impacted their work and 69 per cent say it has improved the quality of their output, 57 per cent are worried it will decrease job opportunities. In fact, 35 per cent of employees already using the technology are concerned it has lowered their own job security.
Despite the divide between their views on the UK’s AI future, the majority of business decision-makers (62 per cent) and employees (58 per cent) believe the UK Government should increase efforts to help the nation benefit from AI.
Both groups cited AI skills and training among their top three priorities, and 30 per cent of business leaders suggested the government should focus on providing greater support for organisations adopting the technology. Meanwhile, 36 per cent of employees place the greatest emphasis on stronger AI regulation and safeguards.
“Government and industry must work together to respond to British business leaders’ calls for greater action on skills, build trust in the technology and ensure its benefits reach everyone,” said Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK and Ireland. “If we remain divided on whether AI will have a positive impact, if we fail to build trust in the technology and if we cannot put the necessary safety ecosystem for models in place, then we will not create the society we want.
“The UK has a chance to lead, not just in AI adoption, but in AI safety. Get both right, and we can unlock growth while ensuring the benefits of AI are open to all.”
The findings of the survey complement Microsoft’s new AI Diffusion in the United Kingdom report, which ranks the UK eighth in the world and second in the G7 for generative AI adoption.
According to the report, AI use in the UK has increased from 36.6 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 43.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2026. However, adoption remains uneven across the country, with estimated AI use reaching just 34.1 per cent in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but 57.4 per cent in the West of England Combined Authority.
The report suggests that closing these gaps will require helping organisations embed AI more deeply into how they operate, while ensuring the opportunities extend across the economy. “The UK ranks eighth globally for AI diffusion, second in the G7 and comfortably leads Europe in AI investment,” said Hardman. “Our thriving technology sector is playing a fundamental role in the economic growth recognised by the International Monetary Fund. Business leaders and employees across the country are embracing AI to change not only what they do and how they get things done, but how quickly.”
“We should absolutely aspire to the government’s ambition for the UK to achieve the fastest AI adoption in the G7. But achieving that ambition is a shared responsibility.”
Microsoft has committed £23 billion ($30 billion) to boost AI adoption in the UK between 2025 and 2028. As part of this investment, it will spend $15 billion to build cloud and AI infrastructure, provide businesses with practical guidance on redesigning workflows and adopting AI at scale so they become ‘frontier firms’, and equip more than 2.5 million people across the UK with digital and AI skills.
Microsoft will discuss the new survey and AI Diffusion in the United Kingdom report at the Microsoft Frontier Tour in London, UK, on 21 October 2026.