British bosses now ask AI whether they should use AI

AI is so entrenched in the UK businesses which have adopted it that nearly two-thirds (62%) of bosses claim they use the tech to make the majority of their decisions, while many use it to even determine when and how they should use AI itself.

So says Confluent’s “Quick Thinking 2026” report, which is based on a survey of 200 UK CEOs, MDs, and C-level executives, and examines how UK leaders are using data and AI to support the decision making process, and the impact this is having on business confidence.

The research reveals that 70% of UK leaders now second-guess their own judgement when it conflicts with AI recommendations, while nearly two-thirds (65%) say decision-making has become less collaborative since adopting AI. Almost half (46%) now rely more on AI than their colleagues’ advice.

Alarmingly, business leaders are also using AI to guide some of their most sensitive decisions, including: whether to use AI (47%). when to implement AI (33%), workforce issues such as hiring and firing (27%), and people management (25%).

While nearly eight out of ten (79%) trust AI to help them make complex decisions, confidence depends heavily on data quality. Nearly all UK leaders (91%) say they would feel more confident using AI if it was powered by real-time data that reflects what is happening across their business at that moment. To address this, 67% are planning to invest in more data streaming technologies, helping feed AI with more useful, and accurate, business insights.

Confluent VP Northern Europe Richard Jones said: “It’s easy to see why so many UK leaders are leaning on AI when making high-pressure decisions. When the stakes are high, AI can feel like a neutral voice that processes information quickly and offers clear recommendations.

“The risk is when that reliance turns into blind trust. AI can only work with the data it’s given, and when that data is incomplete or out of date, the consequences can be serious.

“That’s why it’s so encouraging to see businesses investing heavily in data. If leaders want AI to make informed decisions, it needs an accurate, real-time view of what’s really happening across the business. Without that, AI can sound knowledgeable, but it won’t be truly intelligent.”

Even so, official figures from the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology paint a slightly different picture, revealing that, nationwide, adoption of AI is currently still modest, with just one in six businesses using the technology, and most currently having no active plans to do so.

AI adoption varies by size and sector, with large and mid-sized businesses more likely to be using it, as are those in the information and communication, finance and real estate and business services/administration sectors.

However, a lack of identified need and limited AI skills are the most commonly cited barriers to AI adoption, but ethical concerns are deemed more significant.