The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, redefining roles, and demanding new skills from leaders worldwide. It is now no longer just a focus of IT departments; leaders across all functions must build foundational knowledge to make informed decisions about its adoption and usage. However, a recent survey of business leaders from the US and UK by General Assembly reveals a concerning reality. 58% of executives have never participated in AI training or taken an AI course, despite acknowledging its growing importance. This knowledge gap could have far-reaching implications for organizations as they navigate the complexities of AI adoption and integration.
Here’s a deeper look at the challenges and opportunities in preparing leadership for the future of AI-powered business.
27% of leaders are not confident in using AI tools
While executives predict AI will play a pivotal role in their teams over the next decade, many lack the confidence to lead in the AI era. Only 42% feel very or extremely confident in using AI tools securely, while over a quarter (27%) admit to being “not very” or “not at all” confident. The knowledge gap also extends to hiring vendors that leverage AI, with 39% of executives stating they lack the expertise to make informed decisions.
Confidence in evaluating AI vendors varies significantly by function and region:
- 79% of IT leaders feel equipped to assess AI vendors, compared to just 26% of finance and accounting executives.
- Geographically, 70% of UK executives feel confident in their knowledge, compared to 59% of US executives.
- UK leaders are also more likely to have undergone AI training (53%) than their US counterparts (40%).
Leaders lack AI usage policy and awareness
Nearly half (46%) of executives report their organizations lack an AI usage policy. Even among those with established policies, awareness is uneven. For example:
- 84% of IT leaders say their company has a policy, but 11% admit they haven’t familiarized themselves with it.
- In finance, 21% of leaders are unaware of their organization’s AI policies.
Smaller businesses fare worse, with only 26% of companies with fewer than 100 employees having AI policies in place, compared to 81% of large enterprises with over 10,000 employees. Without clear and enforced policies, organizations expose themselves to legal, ethical, and data privacy risks.
Lack of AI training is limiting adoption across teams
While 54% of leaders encourage AI use, fewer than half (47%) report regular adoption within their teams. Finance departments show the lowest engagement, with only 18% of leaders indicating their teams use AI, compared to 71% in IT departments.
A lack of training is a major barrier:
- Over half (54%) of companies do not offer AI training at all.
- Only 16% of companies in the US and 20% in the UK provide regular AI training.
Training is often infrequent, with 23% of organizations offering it occasionally, and just 7% offering one-time sessions.
Executives fear AI replacing their jobs
Executives recognize AI’s potential to disrupt the workforce but often view it as a challenge for their teams, not themselves. While 26% believe AI could replace their roles in the next decade, 79% expect it to replace some employees’ jobs.
Interestingly, perceptions vary by generation: 62% of Gen Z employees worry about AI replacing their roles, compared to only 24% of Baby Boomers.
Organizations that fail to adapt to the AI revolution risk falling behind. From creating robust AI usage policies to upskilling employees and leaders, businesses must take proactive steps to embrace this transformative technology. Building AI literacy across functions, fostering adoption, and preparing teams to thrive alongside AI are critical for long-term success.
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