Logicalis, a global technology service provider, has released its annual CIO Report examining the role of AI in organisations. The findings indicate that AI is becoming increasingly integrated into organisational operations, decision-making, and value creation. According to the report, 90% of UK CIOs said their organisation’s appetite for AI adoption has increased over the past 12 months.
However, the report also highlights concerns about the pace of adoption. More than a third of UK CIOs said the pace of AI adoption in their organisation is “too fast”, while this rises to 51% globally. The report also found that 61% of UK CIOs believe their organisation’s AI strategy is not fully aligned with its overall business plan.
The rapid integration of AI into business environments has, in some cases, moved faster than governance structures. The Logicalis 2026 CIO Report states that when AI activity advances ahead of governance, CIOs may be responsible for balancing organisational ambitions with accountability. Without established operating models, organisations may face regulatory exposure, operational disruption, or investments that do not deliver measurable value. The report suggests the risk is not investment in AI itself, but investment without clear connections between experimentation, organisational value, and long-term operating models.
Despite these concerns, UK CIOs reported that AI is already delivering value in some areas, particularly where data, ownership, and processes are established. The three areas where UK CIOs reported the greatest impact are:
- Improving day-to-day service delivery (59%)
- Strengthening predictive analytics, data-driven forecasting, and business insights (57%)
- Enhancing customer experience (48%)
As the UK continues to explore AI’s potential for economic growth, job creation, and public services, the report indicates that CIOs believe AI innovation should be supported by stable operating models. Approaches that work in experimental environments may face challenges when applied at scale or under regulatory scrutiny.
The report also identifies several barriers to AI adoption. Among UK CIOs surveyed:
- 81% said a lack of internal technical skills is a barrier to AI adoption, with 27% describing it as a significant barrier
- 63% said staff lack the skills needed for responsible AI use, which could create compliance or reputational risks
The findings highlight the challenges organisations face as they adopt AI while managing increasing expectations and organisational complexity. CIOs may be required to accelerate technology initiatives while managing risk and ensuring that appropriate organisational structures are in place.
The report suggests that the next phase of AI adoption will focus less on demonstrating capabilities and more on ensuring systems and governance structures support deployment at scale and deliver measurable business outcomes.
Across the chapters of the 2026 CIO Report, the research identifies strong interest in AI adoption alongside concerns about governance, scalability, and long-term oversight. The report concludes that organisations may need governance frameworks that evolve alongside AI deployment to support both innovation and operational resilience.
