'That shouldnt translate into investing in AI blindly, without a clear strategy': Experts warn UK firms want to keep spending big on AI - even if they can't prove it makes a difference

Date:
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:32:16 +0000

Description:
ROI isn't just about finances many business leaders are seeing AI as an opportunity for much bigger organizational transformations.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Productivity, work quality and
decision-making are bigger ROIs than profitability Leaders aren't confident measuring non-financial ROI, though Worker upskilling and job spec redefinition should be prioritized New data from KPMG has claimed some companies are continuing to invest in AI despite poor returns on investment, however it could be time to reframe expectations and focus on far more than just traditional financial ROI.

The report outlines how organizations are increasingly seeing it as a long-term strategic investment for transformation, rather than just focusing on short-term and immediate value. As a result, profitability has slipped as
a priority, cited by 64% of KPMG's sources, compared with non-financial metrics like productivity gains (76%), quality of work (71%) and better decision-making (67%). Article continues below You may like Only 31% of UK firms report positive returns on AI investments New study claims firms are ready to spend big on AI, but are afraid to take the first step CEOs want to spend more on AI - but they aren't seeing any big returns just yet AI is
about full company transformation, not just profitability The difficulty
comes with actually measuring ROI while profitability can be observed on the accounts, only 14% are confident in measuring indirect and strategic returns due to challenges with quantifying benefits. On the whole, KPMG summarizes that traditional ROI frameworks don't actually map well to AI outcomes.

Despite this unclear ROI, around two in three (65%) companies are set to continue investing regardless of measurable returns, with AI now seen as a 'must-have' much like cloud. Agentic AI seems to be one of the biggest priorities, with nearly all (94%) using or planning to use AI agents.

As for what this means for the workforce, KPMG says AI doesn't just require a tech shift, but a broader organizational change to accommodate workers in new types of roles. Around half are already redesigning roles around AI (48%) and hiring dedicated AI specialists (52%), three in five are upskilling their staff (61%) too.

Despite ongoing training efforts, for many, the shift is simply too big, with 46% citing skills shortages as a major barrier. The usual culprits privacy, security and governance are also still hurdles for many. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Whatever form of AI an organisation is using or planning to use, it is critical to have the right guardrails in place to minimise risks," AI Head Dr Leanne Allen wrote.

Allen praised companies for investing in their workers, but stressed that roles are likely to change under the influence of AI. Looking ahead, business leaders should pay as much attention to role support as they do workers. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the
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