UK business leaders equate AI with utilities like water & energy

Recent research has indicated that a significant proportion of UK business leaders now view artificial intelligence as essential to society, equating its importance with that of water and energy.

The survey, conducted by Endava in partnership with 3Gem, gathered the views of 500 business decision-makers across a range of industries. The findings point towards a strong and growing optimism about AI's potential to transform both business operations and wider society.

AI in everyday life

According to the research, 65% of respondents placed AI on the same level of social importance as core utilities such as water and energy. This high valuation is not reserved for the technology sector—respondents represented industries including retail, payments, insurance, finance, media, telecommunications, healthcare, mobility, and consumer goods.

Additionally, 69% reported that AI is already directly benefitting their organisation's profits, underpinning its perceived value within commercial settings. The appetite for adoption is broad, with 93% agreeing that industry and government should embrace and implement AI as much and as quickly as possible.

The study also found that engagement with AI is part of the routine for many. Among British business leaders surveyed, 84% said they have conversations with AI or use it in a companion role at least once a month. This frequent engagement has translated into trust: 66% would at least somewhat trust AI to make entirely automated decisions about their lives, covering matters beyond the workplace.

"It's fascinating to uncover the high level of trust people are already placing in AI," commented Matt Cloke, Endava CTO. "You might expect hesitation around such a powerful and rapidly evolving technology. In fact, many are not only using AI regularly, but are relying on it to support both business-critical and deeply personal decisions. That said, the findings also highlight a clear desire for reassurance. People want to see the right frameworks in place before AI becomes fully embedded in society."

Calls for oversight

The strong support for greater AI adoption is coupled with demands for careful oversight. Nearly all respondents (96%) suggested that global AI adoption should be guided by an independent, global organisation, and 94% expressed a preference for such an entity to be government-led. This reflects a widespread desire for governance frameworks that ensure safe and equitable integration of AI into society.

However, significant challenges remain. Over half (55%) of business leaders surveyed highlighted concerns that current infrastructure is insufficient to accommodate the rapid progression and wider deployment of AI, suggesting that improvements to digital and physical infrastructure will be crucial to support continued adoption.

Business expectations and investment

The survey captured how confidence in AI's near-term potential often correlates with organisational seniority. Among C-Suite respondents, half expect their company to achieve 'advanced' AI capabilities within the next two years. For middle managers, this figure falls to 33%.

Despite this optimism, there are concerns about the direction of technology investment. Almost half (47%) of the surveyed business decision-makers believe their organisations are not currently investing in the right AI technologies, indicating perceived gaps between strategic intent and execution.

"The AI transformation is underway, and goes far beyond process," concluded Cloke. "It's clear it's permeating everything: business, culture, society. Making the most of this moment will take focused effort, real expertise and thoughtful guidance. Research like this is essential in helping business leaders make the right decisions for their people and organisations."

Industry-wide transformation

Findings from the study suggest that AI is no longer limited to back-end process improvements or high-tech sectors. Instead, its influence is beginning to be felt across critical systems in both professional and personal domains, with decision-makers expecting the technology to play a central role in future business practices and daily life.

The report serves as an indicator of how perceptions of AI are evolving among UK business leaders, revealing both strong optimism and recognition of the steps still required to ensure a robust and responsible implementation of the technology at scale.