LONDON, June 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Britain’s ambitions to become the world leader in artificial intelligence are at risk of being hampered by a shortage of managers and leaders with the skills and confidence to turn AI investments into higher productivity, stronger businesses and economic growth, according to new research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
The report, Artificial intelligence; True leadership: the managerial imperative in AI adoptiontakes one of the first major insights into how the AI boom is changing management and decision-making in UK workplaces, and whether organizations are prepared for the shift.
Based on surveys of more than 1,000 UK executives, alongside interviews with senior business and technology leaders including Jacky Wright, a global leader in transformative technology with CTO executive roles at Microsoft, GE and McKinsey & Co and Dr. Nicola Hodson, chairman of IBM UK and Ireland, examines how AI is reshaping leadership, workplace culture and organizational decision-making, from the boardroom to frontline management.
The findings suggest that UK businesses are embracing the AI boom with ambition and investing heavily in new technologies, but many are at risk of missing out on the full economic opportunity because they are not investing at the same pace in the leadership capabilities needed to successfully scale adoption across workplaces.
The report identified a number of key findings about how UK workplaces are adapting to AI:
- Most companies see only modest gains from AI adoption: While 70% of managers report some productivity improvements as a result of AI, only 5% say these benefits have been transformational. More than a quarter (26%) say they have seen no productivity gains at all.
- Many organizations get stuck in the experimental phase: More than two-thirds (68%) of organizations are still testing AI or conducting early-stage pilots, despite more than half (52%) of executives believing their organization will be ‘AI future ready’ within a year.
- Executives say senior leaders aren’t leading AI adoption from the front: While 64% of senior leaders encourage experimentation with AI, only 13% of managers strongly agree that senior leaders are actively using the tools themselves.
- Trust in leading AI teams remains low: Only 12% of managers say they are “very confident” about managing teams using AI, dropping to 10% when asked about more advanced agentic AI systems.
- Managers are increasingly turning to AI for guidance in the workplace: Seven in ten (70%) managers report using generative AI tools for advice and guidance at work, as they are perceived as faster and more technically detailed.
Jacky Wright, former Chief Technology and Platforms Officer at McKinsey and Chair of the CMI AI Advisory Council, said:
“The UK has a major opportunity to lead the world in AI adoption, innovation and productivity growth. Businesses are already investing at a rapid pace, but technology alone will not transform.
“The organizations that achieve the greatest success are those that invest equally in leadership, culture and workforce trust. Adopting AI isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a management challenge.”
CMI CEO Ann Francke OBE said:
“UK businesses are not lacking in ambition in AI. Across the economy, organizations are investing heavily as they recognize the huge opportunities AI offers for growth and productivity.
“But there is a real risk that Britain will miss that opportunity if organizations fail to equip managers with the skills and confidence needed to lead change effectively. Britain cannot become an AI leader if its leadership capabilities themselves are lagging.”
Lorna Willis, CEO of TechSkills, the UK’s employer-focused digital skills accreditation body, said:
“AI is changing not only the way organizations operate, but what leadership itself looks like. As technology rapidly evolves, the need for clear, confident and people-centered leadership becomes even more important.
“In the AI era, technical expertise alone is not enough. The leaders who succeed will be those who are able to communicate clearly, build trust, encourage curiosity, and help people adapt through change with confidence.”
The report states that AI adoption will increasingly depend on managers developing stronger human and strategic leadership skills, in addition to technical acumen. It calls on organizations to view AI implementation as a major organizational change program, requiring investments in leadership development, workforce confidence and responsible governance.
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- CMI is the professional organization for managers and leaders. CMI has a membership community of over 230,000 aspiring and practicing managers, and over 150,000 people are currently studying in one of its management and leadership programs.
- In April 2026, CMI launched groundbreaking Leadership for AI Qualifications to help leaders and managers at every career stage set their teams up for success.
- Developed in partnership with TechSkills, the UK’s employer-focused digital skills accreditation body, the new courses ensure managers have fundamental knowledge in AI, cyber security and data to support their leadership in AI adoption.
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