Recent data indicates that only 23% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in the UK believe they can effectively manage all their organisation's AI agents in real time. This statistic highlights a significant challenge against the backdrop of AI's integration into business-critical activities, as shown in a recent report, The 7 Career-Making AI Decisions for CIOs in 2026.

As the rollout of AI agents accelerates, so does the pressure on CIOs to demonstrate measurable returns on AI investments. This pressure has grown considerably, with 85% of British CIOs acknowledging increased expectations since 2024. Comparatively, only 74% of their global counterparts are facing similar pressures.

With the rapid pace at which employees are developing AI applications, many CIOs are voicing concerns about adequate control. A substantial 84% of them agree that the speed of creation is outpacing their ability to govern these digital solutions effectively. Notably, 83% are anxious that this unregulated expansion could lead to potential exposures of sensitive data.

British CIOs are preparing for an anticipated surge in regulatory requirements concerning the audit and explainability of AI systems. Their anticipation is not unfounded, as 79% of them foresee these regulations being in place within the next year, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 70%.

Furthermore, 84% of these executives report that a lack of traceability or explainability has already halted AI projects. This trend underlines the pressing need for robust governance mechanisms, which can ensure accountability prior to compliance enforcement.

These findings, derived from a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for Dataiku, involved 600 CIOs from large-scale organisations across several global markets, including 75 from the UK. These results underscore the urgent need for strategies that can bridge the gap between the rapid adoption and effective oversight of AI within enterprises.