The era of AI experimentation is over, a new IBM Institute for Business Value claims.

With two-thirds of UKI CEOs firmly believing their organisations’ competitive edge will hinge on a robust generative AI strategy, businesses are shifting gears and rapidly adopting and scaling AI agents with success defined by tangible business results.

Agentic AI is revolutionising decision-making, delivering predictive insights that allow businesses to anticipate change before they lift a finger. Helping functions like HR, finance, IT and customer service automate complex tasks, gain insights and drive productivity. In a world of market fluctuations, geopolitical shifts, and evolving customer demands, AI-driven productivity is the competitive edge CEOs cannot afford to ignore.

The IBV CEO study, which surveyed 2,000 CEOS globally, revealed that 64% of UKI leaders see automation’s productivity gains as worth the significant risk to remain competitive, while 66% feel they must take more risks than rivals to stay ahead.

Additionally, 62% of leaders surveyed said they invest in technologies before fully understanding their value to avoid falling behind.

However, smart leaders are taking smart risks that involve strategic experimentation, learning, and incremental innovation to pave the way for larger bets in the future.

“As expectations around AI shift towards competitive advantage and quantifiable ROI, CEOs are embracing risk as an opportunity to drive business performance”, explained Rahul Kalia, managing partner, UK and Ireland, IBM Consulting. “AI-first mindset has gained traction as CEOs navigate disruption while driving growth.”

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As AI investment is set to more than double in the next two years, businesses in the UK and Ireland are faced with the pressure of rapid transformation.

To rise to the challenge 82% of UKI executives are committed to sustaining or accelerating their efforts—yet challenges persist, with 45% encountering disconnected technology due to swift investments and 77% facing growth barriers from inconsistent standards.

However, only a quarter (25%) of AI initiatives have delivered expected ROI over the last few years and only 16% have scaled enterprise wide.

Still, just over half (52%) of CEO respondents say their organisation is realising value from generative AI investments beyond cost reduction.