C-suite seen as biggest source of workplace AI risk

According to a survey of more than 2,000 UK tech workers commissioned by La Fosse, senior executives have emerged as the primary source of workplace AI risk within British companies. The study highlights a concerning trend among C-suite leaders, who report not only a heavy reliance on AI tools but also a frequent tendency to apply them to tasks beyond their professional training.

Perhaps most critically, the findings suggest a reckless approach to governance, with many leaders admitting a readiness to proceed with AI-informed decisions even when the underlying data is known to be inaccurate. This behaviour has fostered a significant trust gap, as a substantial portion of the workforce expresses limited confidence in the AI expertise of their senior leadership.

La Fosse said 78% of C-suite executives surveyed admitted to using AI for work they are not trained to do. A further 93% of C-level leaders said AI-informed decisions have been made using inaccurate data. The survey also found that 40% of C-suite executives reported serious business impact as a result of AI errors.

Decision-making risks

More broadly, 52% of all tech workers surveyed said AI decisions at their company had been made without the right expertise. La Fosse said 65% of C-suite executives acknowledged that such decisions occur at the most senior level.

The findings also highlight data handling as a pressure point for governance. Nearly three-quarters of C-suite executives, 73%, said they had uploaded confidential company data into AI tools. That compared with 42% of entry-level staff and 35% of intermediate-level employees, according to the survey. Directors recorded a similar figure to the C-suite at 74%.

La Fosse said the pattern points to high autonomy at the top of organisations and less oversight than in lower ranks. It also reported that C-suite and director-level staff use AI more intensively and for higher-stakes decisions.

"The people with the greatest autonomy over AI are also the ones most exposed to its risks. Concentrated at the top of organisations, this risk is often hidden behind confidence and speed, while gaps in governance, skills, and accountability widen beneath the surface. Organisations must ensure leaders have the right expertise before these decisions cause real business impact," said Ollie Whiting, CEO, La Fosse.

Confidence gap

The survey highlights a stark disparity between the self-assurance of senior leaders and the perceptions of their colleagues regarding AI competence.

While 70% of C-suite executives describe themselves as "very confident" in their AI expertise, this sentiment is not shared across the broader organisation. Confidence in leadership's AI capabilities diminishes significantly at lower levels of the hierarchy: only 50% of senior management and 48% of directors maintain such trust. This figure drops further to 36% among middle management, while entry-level and intermediate staff report the lowest levels of confidence at 33% and 27% respectively.

At the same time, La Fosse reported that 65% of C-suite executives admitted AI decisions are still made without the right expertise. The survey also found that 80% of C-suite leaders said a dedicated AI specialist is needed at board level.

Whiting also linked the trust gap to broader organisational behaviour around AI use. "The disconnect between confidence and competence is undermining trust and adoption of AI across organisations," said Whiting. "When employees don't believe leadership understands AI, they are less likely to embrace AI initiatives, flag problems early, or trust AI-driven decisions being made at a high level. Boards can no longer assume seniority equates to capability - governance, expertise, and scrutiny are essential," said Whiting.

Frontline impact

The results also suggest that business impact does not only sit with the most senior staff. While intermediate-level employees reported lower rates of serious business impact from AI errors, the survey found higher reported impact at entry level.

La Fosse said 32% of entry-level staff reported serious business impact from AI errors, compared with 17% of middle management and 11% of intermediate employees. The company noted that entry-level findings are directional due to a reduced sample size.

Workforce outlook

The survey also asked respondents about expectations for AI-related disruption in the workplace. La Fosse said half of tech workers, 50%, expect AI to lead to job losses at their company within three years.

The research was conducted by Censuswide among 2,020 UK employees working in tech across multiple seniority levels, including 545 C-suite executives and 388 directors.

Whiting said the issues raised in the findings extend beyond individual mistakes and point to a need for stronger scrutiny at the top of organisations. "Even the most experienced experts are still learning about AI - and those in the C-suite scrutinising their own confidence, competence, and AI-related decision making thoroughly are going to win long-term. Organisations need to be willing to look beyond the headlines, confront uncomfortable realities, and take action before those risks compound.

"Our purpose at La Fosse is to deliver the future-proof technology talent organisations need to succeed. We work closely with leaders under pressure to move quickly and stay competitive, and understand the enormous opportunity AI presents," said Whiting.