Research and analysis

6 key findings from the data foundations and AI adoption in the UK private and third sectors report

Published 16 August 2021

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-foundations-and-ai-adoption-in-the-uk-private-and-third-sectors/6-key-findings-from-the-data-foundations-and-ai-adoption-in-the-uk-private-and-third-sectors-report

1. Data strategies

Organisations overwhelmingly recognise the importance of data to their success.

  • 99% of surveyed organisations agreed that data is important to their success, with 90% of respondents having a data strategy or data-related initiatives in place.

2. Data foundations adoption

The adoption of data foundations appears to be relatively widespread.

Chart 1: Data foundations and AI adoption in the UK private and third sectors report
  • The average data foundations Adoption score was 4.0 (the score ranged from 1 to 5). There were no significant differences between the size of the organisation, region or industry. However, the level of data foundations adoption in the third sector was found to be relatively low compared with the private sector.

3. AI adoption x data foundations adoption

Solid data foundations appear to be a necessary condition for AI adoption.

Chart 2: Data foundations and AI adoption in the UK private and third sectors report
  • All organisations that claim they have high AI adoption also have high data foundations adoption. However, not all organisations with high data foundations adoption have high AI adoption. This suggests data foundations are necessary but not a sufficient condition for high AI adoption.

4. Barriers to data foundations adoption

Current challenges will continue into the future.

Chart 3 Data foundations and AI adoption in the UK private and third sectors report
  • Firms face practical barriers in adopting and improving data foundations. These include lack of skilled personnel, challenges with existing infrastructure, and lack of funding.

5. Where organisations are on AI Adoption

A majority of organisations have either adopted AI or plan to.

Chart 4: Data foundations and AI adoption in the UK private and third sectors report
  • AI remains an emerging technology with 27% of organisations at Released and Advanced level[footnote 1]; 38% of organisations planning and piloting the technology; and 33% of organisations neither having adopted AI nor planning to.

6. AI adoption in the private sector

Large private sector organisations are leading the way on AI adoption.

  • Within the UK private sector, 90% of large organisations have planned or already adopted AI, compared with 48% of SMEs.

  1. Definition of AI Adoption Level in Methodology section (Section 2 of the full report) ↩

Back to top