UK IT leaders are doubling down on artificial intelligence, but are doing so under pressure to rein in spending and manage escalating security risks, according to new research from Flexera.

The 2026 Flexera IT Priorities Report reveals that more than a third (37%) of UK IT decision- makers have made AI integration their number one priority for the year ahead, outpacing traditional focus areas like cost optimisation (26%) and security risk reduction (25%).

Nearly all respondents (98%) say employees are already developing ways to embed AI into their products and services, with 95% confirming they are continuously looking for new opportunities to integrate AI into their technology stack.

Yet, one in three (30%) admit that AI integration remains their biggest unsolved challenge, highlighting the tension between innovation ambitions and operational readiness.

As budgets tighten and threats rise, UK IT leaders are under pressure to deliver measurable business value from AI while maintaining resilience and compliance. While AI offers solutions to these continual quandaries, the novel technology also presents its own risks and governance challenges.

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“AI has become the defining priority for UK IT leaders. However, the challenge lies in doing it sustainably,” Marlon Oliver, Senior Vice President, EMEA at Flexera said.

“IT teams are being asked to innovate faster, cut costs and strengthen security —all at the same time. That’s where visibility and control become critical. Organisations that can see, understand and optimise their technology footprint will be the ones that turn AI from hype into real business advantage.”