- Microsoft UK CEO says AI can bring “sweeping changes”
- Possible half a trillion pound option for AI and Cloud UK economy in the next decade
- Microsoft set to celebrate 43 years in the UK in 2025
The new CEO of Microsoft UK has hailed the possible influence that AI can have on the nation’s organizations in a potentially challenging future business landscape.
When he spoke at the company’s Microsoft Ai Tour London event, Darren Hardman outlined how “from life -saving health innovations to sustainable technologies that focus on improving social, economic and environmental effects is AI in the way.”
“For Britain as a whole, AI has the power to rework the nation’s growth ambitions and secure our position as a global player in the launch of new AI companies, but also cement our position in the industries where we are strong,” he declared.
Ai Revolution
“Like the industrial revolution of the 19th century, our 21st century AI revolution represents the opportunity to bring sweeping changes in the global economy,” Hardman said.
“For businesses, it is about innovating faster, optimizing processes and having more control over how we work, cutting the digital dragging, removing the worldly and doing more of the work we love,” he added, “supercharging efficiency, improving services and unlocked better results for citizens.”
Hardman’s speech was accompanied by new Microsoft Research, which may find surprisingly that business leaders are excited about the potential AI offers, with many eager to roll out technology such as AI agents.
Microsoft’s survey found that nearly three quarters (72%) of leaders expected AI agents to soon be fully integrated across their operations, by 21%that expected this to be within the next 12 months and 39%within two years.
However, the report also warned of a growing “AI split” between this business planning to embrace AI and those lacking investments or buy-in, with more than half (54%) of business leaders who admit their organization to lack any formal AI strategy, and worryingly, fewer than half (45%) say that their businesses properly understand AI skills, as their work strength.
Hardman hit an optimistic tone and declared that there is half a trillion pound option for AI and Cloud UK economy in the next decade.
“There is a clear and urgent demand for AI in its many forms from developers to decision makers across government, education and business,” he said. “But more than it depends on economic growth.”
