New report reveals how businesses are adopting AI and what leaders must do next

A new report released this week reveals how businesses are really adopting AI – and what leaders should do next.

‘AI and the Future of Work’ is a report from Birmingham-headquartered Curium Solutions, with support from the University of Birmingham.

Developed with the support of MBA students from the University of Birmingham, the report goes beyond the headlines to explore what Artificial Intelligence really means for organisations today.

It combines academic research with real-world insights from senior business leaders across industries including retail, financial services, aerospace, rail, logistics, telecommunications and technology.

This report provides evidence-based answers to questions such as:

• How do we embrace AI while managing the risks?
• How do we prepare our people for the changes ahead?
• What does successful AI adoption actually look like?
• Where should we start?

The the research examines the immediate and medium-term opportunities and challenges facing organisations.

Through interviews with business leaders, extensive academic research, global industry reports and leadership roundtables, Curium has identified the common themes, barriers and practical actions that will shape successful AI adoption.

The findings reveal that while AI technology is advancing at remarkable speed, the biggest challenges are rarely technical.

Instead, organisations are grappling with leadership confidence, organisational culture, trust, skills, data readiness and how to bring people with them on the journey.

The report explores the current state of AI adoption across multiple industries, the biggest opportunities organisations are beginning to unlock, the barriers preventing successful implementation, the leadership capabilities needed to navigate AI transformation and practical recommendations for organisations looking to harness AI responsibly and effectively.

Curium co-founder Andy Dawson (pictured), who is also president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “AI is now a regular topic in almost every conversation I have with business leaders.

“Yet there is still no single view of what the future will look like, and levels of experience, confidence and appetite vary significantly between organisations and people.

“With this report, we wanted to get beneath the headlines and understand, at a practical level, what successful AI adoption will look like, and what leaders need to do now to prepare them for the future.”

Principal consultant and business architect Dr. Kate Bailey said: “Since conducting this research, what has stood out for me is that successful AI adoption is a cultural and leadership challenge ,way more than it is a technology one.

“Our findings show that leaders need to focus on using AI to solve business problems while building adaptive behaviours to foster experimentation and continual learning.”

Senior consultant Henriette Lang said: “AI is here and will inevitably shape the future of work. Simultaneously, it is worth remembering that humans have a say in how that future looks.

“Our report offers an insight into what workplaces are doing, and how AI could impact them, drawing on real life examples and experiences.”

The full report is available to download from the Curium Solutions’ website.