We’ve just successfully launched the Nash Squared Digital Leadership Report Pulse Survey, which forms part of Nash Squared’s larger annual survey of technology leadership, which has identified technology trends for over 25 years, and taken in the views of over 50,000 technology leaders.

The findings have already been covered in Computer Weekly, TechRound, Silicon.co.uk, Global Recruiter, Personnel Today, Management Today, ZDNet, IT Pro and The Register.

The Pulse Survey found that predictions that AI will have a major, rapid effect on UK jobs appear overhyped. Although almost three quarters (74%) of UK tech leaders (CIOs, CTOs etc) have deployed GenAI to at least some extent to employees, almost all (99%) report that it’s not yet replacing jobs. In contrast, over half (51%) are using GenAI as a personal productivity tool to support existing jobs, to make them more effective.

But as GenAI is being rapidly rolled out more widely, the need to appoint a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is also rising with one in twenty UK based organisations already with one, and a similar proportion planning to appoint one. It is therefore expected that in time, one in ten organisations in the UK will have a CAIO. However, for the majority of organisations, the AI strategy still sits with the tech leader, the CIO or CTO.

Bev White, CEO of Nash Squared, said in the official press release:

“Our Digital Leadership Report Pulse Survey paints a picture of great promise in AI, but also one where most UK tech leaders are still trying to make it work. There’s no doubt there have been some incredible advances. One tech leader mentioned how the last year has seen a giant leap in cancer screening through AI – good news for us all. Another talks about how Machine Learning has supported the fundraising revenue for their higher education institution, opening access to a wider student population.

But although the ’replace jobs’ impact of GenAI is headline grabbing news, in our discussions with tech leaders there is a sense that its impact will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. As organisations change and grow AI will be stitched into the operations and structure; its impact happening bit by bit. In fact the Pulse Survey indicates that organisations with company-wide implementations of GenAI are in fact more likely to be increasing tech headcount in the next year than the average.”