Business leaders urge basics first for AI rollouts at work

In short: More companies are spending on AI, but leaders say the best results come from fixing work processes first and then adding AI in a planned way.

What's going on

UK businesses are increasing their AI budgets, according to figures cited in a new SAP and Oxford Economics report. Average spending rose to £20.6 million this year, up from £16.2 million last year. But 40 per cent of AI rollouts in the survey were described as piecemeal, meaning separate teams try things on their own without a joined-up plan.

At a recent Financial Times event, leaders from Adecco Group and Siemens said this can leave workers feeling overwhelmed. Some call this “AI vertigo”, which means the pace of change feels dizzying and hard to keep up with.

A key message from the discussion was to “map the work” before adding AI. That means writing down how work is actually done today, step by step, like drawing a route on a map before starting a journey. Siemens UK and Ireland CEO Brian Holliday said companies should improve broken processes first, otherwise AI may just speed up the same problems.

Adecco CEO Denis Machuel said trust and communication matter, especially as companies start using AI agents, which are AI tools that can take actions on their own (like a digital co-worker who can complete tasks). He said Adecco broke jobs into smaller tasks with input from recruiters, then decided what AI should do and what should stay with humans. He also warned that leaders need ongoing conversations, since teams may work around official tools, for example using WhatsApp while traveling.

What to watch

Expect more companies to shift from small AI pilots to company-wide programs. Watch for whether workers are clearly told what is changing and are invited to help redesign their day-to-day tasks.

Source: Financial Times