Business leaders in the U.S. and UK have a significant lack of AI preparedness, with many executives deficient in the skills and confidence to lead their organizations in an AI-driven era.
The General Assembly study of nearly 400 directors and vice presidents indicates that these gaps, if left unaddressed, could impact organizational security, competitiveness and privacy.
Nearly six in 10 (58%) of executives surveyed admitted they had never attended AI training or taken an AI course.
While 42% expressed confidence in using AI tools without compromising data security, 27% admitted to feeling not confident at all.
Moreover, nearly 40% said they lack the knowledge to evaluate AI vendors effectively.
These challenges vary across departments: 79% of IT leaders feel equipped to assess AI tools, but only 26% of finance and accounting executives share that confidence.
The disparity is also evident geographically, with 70% of UK executives reporting readiness to make AI-related decisions compared to just 59% of their US counterparts.
Despite widespread recognition of AI’s transformative potential, training remains a stumbling block.
Only 16% of US companies and 20% of UK companies regularly offer AI training programs, while over half provide none.
“To close the AI knowledge gap, organizations need tailored learning paths for every role,” explained an expert in AI and automation, Balakrishna (Bali) D.R., global head for AI and automation at Infosys.
Examples include internal platforms with hands-on training tools, workshops, hackathons, and partnerships with universities to co-create training programs.
Internal initiatives like AI-focused forums, newsletters and targeted training sessions also play a key role in building AI fluency.
“We’ve seen success by fostering communities where leaders can collaborate on AI projects and discuss challenges,” Bali said.
Such efforts encourage continuous learning and help demystify AI for non-technical teams, ensuring all departments are ready to adopt AI solutions.
The Role of Policies in Responsible AI Adoption
The survey found that nearly half of companies lack AI usage policies, and even among those with established policies, awareness is uneven.
Large organizations with over 10,000 employees are more likely to have guidelines (81%), while only 26% of small businesses report the same.
Furthermore, 14% of executives admitted they were unfamiliar with their company’s existing AI policies.
Bali stressed that clear policies are essential for mitigating risks and ensuring ethical AI use.
“Defining policies for model selection, testing, and validation is crucial for reliability and compliance,” he explained.
Companies must also document procedures for transparency and audits, particularly as regulations like the EU AI Act emerge.
Without such frameworks, businesses face security vulnerabilities, non-compliance risks and reputational damage.
Bridging Confidence Gaps Across Departments
The survey revealed a significant confidence gap between IT leaders and other departments when it comes to AI readiness.
IT leaders, often at the forefront of digital transformation, are more familiar with AI tools and their applications, giving them an edge in evaluating and implementing solutions.
However, non-IT leaders in finance, HR, and operations lag, feeling less equipped to integrate AI into their workflows.
Closing this gap requires targeted interventions.
“Organizations should focus on building AI literacy across all functions through tailored training and collaborative projects,” Bali advised.
Role-specific use cases and cross-departmental initiatives can help non-technical leaders understand AI’s practical applications.
He said by fostering a culture of continuous learning and creating AI champions within teams, companies can ensure that all leaders are confident and capable of adopting AI effectively.
The Path to AI Readiness
While 54% of leaders encourage AI adoption within their teams, only 47% report regular AI usage, highlighting a gap between intent and implementation.
This disparity is particularly stark in finance departments, where just 18% of leaders say their teams use AI compared to 71% in IT.
Bali said addressing this gap requires both technical readiness and cultural change, adding organizations must prioritize AI training, establish clear usage policies, and foster collaboration across departments.
“Transparent communication, combined with hands-on exposure to AI tools, helps employees see how AI enhances their work,” he said.
