Jessica O'ConnorA growing number of organisations risk falling behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, as more than a third (32%) admitted their adoption of AI is being held back by a lack of skilled talent, according to research from FDM Group.
The findings, published in FDM Group’s whitepaper Workforce 2.0: AI Adoption and the Future of Jobs, are based on a survey of more than 300 clients across the UK, North America, EMEA and APAC.
The report highlighted a widening “AI black hole” – where enthusiasm for adoption far outpaces workforce readiness.
While over half (53%) of organisations said they are exploring AI, only 2% have fully embedded it into their operations.
Most teams remained in the early stages of capability building, with 58% reporting only limited or developing AI proficiency and just 6% possessing high-level expertise.
Sheila Flavell, CBE, COO of FDM Group, said: “AI has the potential to transform the way we work, however, without the right skills, organisations will fail to leverage AI’s full potential. One third of enterprises are already facing an AI roadblock, where the ambition to adopt AI is there, but the workforce readiness to deliver on that ambition is not.
“We must not only look at how AI will transform the workplace over the next year, but in the next decade, where businesses that don’t hire or train AI-skilled staff now risk being left behind entirely.
“Our research shows that the biggest challenge organisations face is keeping skills relevant in such a rapidly evolving landscape, which makes continuous upskilling and development essential. By equipping teams with the expertise they need, organisations can close this capability gap and ensure they remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven world.”
