AI as ‘socially vital’ as water and energy, say UK execs

Without water, the average human would die after about five days. Without energy, our society as we know it would collapse. But what about a world without AI? According to British business leaders, the consequences would be equally catastrophic.

A whopping 93% of the respondents want industry and government to implement AI as fast as possible. Meanwhile, 84% of say they use AI as a “companion” or conversation partner at least once a month, while two-thirds trust AI to make fully automated decisions about their lives. 

However, nearly all respondents (96%) believe that global AI adoption needs oversight from an independent international body, and 94% want that body to be government-led. At the same time, more than half (55%) warn that existing infrastructure limitations could hold back AI’s full potential.

Endava’s CTO, Matt Cloke, described the results as “fascinating,” noting the tension between trust in AI and the ...