Many UK businesses are "stuck in neutral" when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), according to Microsoft UK's boss. A recent survey highlights a significant number of organizations, both in the public and private sectors, are without a formal AI strategy.
The Microsoft survey, which included nearly 1,500 senior leaders and 1,440 employees across the UK, revealed that more than half of executives feel their organization lacks an official AI plan. This lack of strategy is contributing to a growing productivity gap between employees who are leveraging AI and those who are not. The "AI Divide" is real, and it could be the difference between success and failure for many businesses, Microsoft suggests.
The AI Strategy Gap
The survey results paint a concerning picture of AI adoption in the UK. While some businesses are embracing AI and seeing significant gains in productivity, many others are lagging behind. This disparity is creating a competitive disadvantage for those "stuck in neutral."
"The highest performing businesses and most productive public sector organizations have a clear AI strategy in place," according to Microsoft.
What's holding these companies back? Is it a lack of understanding of AI's potential, a fear of the unknown, or simply a lack of resources? Whatever the reason, it's clear that many UK firms need to prioritize developing and implementing a comprehensive AI strategy if they want to remain competitive.
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End of the Line for Microsoft Publisher
In other Microsoft news, the tech giant has announced that support for Microsoft Publisher will end after October 2026. Users are encouraged to start exploring alternative desktop publishing solutions as the product reaches the end of its support lifecycle. This announcement was made on Microsoft's support page, indicating that the desktop publishing software will no longer be supported after October 2026.
Make sure to adjust your workflow as needed to prevent any issues with the pending discontinuation. This change emphasizes the need to keep up with the latest software and support changes.