**London**: A PagerDuty study reveals that 73% of UK companies have fully adopted generative AI tools, surpassing the global average. The report highlights a shift towards agentic AI, with 94% of firms planning accelerated integration amidst concerns over rapid adoption pitfalls.
A recent study conducted by PagerDuty indicates a significant shift in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within UK businesses, revealing that 73% of companies have “fully” implemented generative AI tools. This places the UK ahead of the global average of 63% and highlights the increasing momentum with which firms are moving from experimentation to practical use of AI technologies.
The study indicates that the trend is not isolated to the UK; Australia also shows high engagement with 69% of its businesses having fully integrated generative AI. Conversely, Japan lags behind with just 44% adoption, attributed to its aging population and possibly more conservative approaches to new technology.
As businesses look towards the next phase of AI, the report underscores a growing tendency to adopt agentic AI—an AI that can make decisions autonomously. A substantial 94% of companies surveyed expressed intentions to integrate agentic AI at an “accelerated pace,” suggesting that many firms are actively seeking the productivity improvements associated with greater autonomy.
Data from the survey of 1,000 IT and business executives reveals a sharp rise in the functional utilisation of generative AI. In 2023, a year after the public launch of ChatGPT, only 33% of companies reported having employed generative AI in any business function. This figure rose dramatically to 71% by July 2024, underscoring the rapid evolution in the sector.
In terms of future plans, the study found that more than half (55%) of the executives intend to adopt AI agents rapidly. In addition, 51% have already deployed AI agents, with 35% planning to do so within the next two years. Notably, only a small fraction—3%—reported having no clear timeline for the implementation of agentic AI.
The report mentions that a significant concern among businesses is the potential pitfalls associated with rapid GenAI adoption; 44% of respondents expressed worries about having rushed their implementation processes. This reflects a broader sentiment that current leaders are more cautious and learned from their previous experiences with AI. Focus areas for improvement include cost control (40%), employee training (37%), and strengthening data infrastructure (37%).
Eric Johnson, CIO of PagerDuty, commented on the implications of successful AI integration, stating, “Companies that successfully integrate agentic AI into their operations can expect increased efficiency gains by automating complexity and accelerating decision-making.”
Looking ahead, PagerDuty’s report forecasts that companies that have already implemented generative AI are significantly more likely—71%—to also have adopted agentic AI. This suggests that taking the initial step towards AI integration can pave the way for further advancements and enhancements in business operations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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