Accelerating responsible AI adoption

AI adoption by UK businesses across all sectors provides a direct route to UK growth. AI could lift UK productivity by 1.5% a year, worth up to £47 billion a year to the economy over the next decade, but just 16% of businesses currently use AI and 80% neither use it nor plan to.

AI-driven economic growth will only happen if more UK businesses accelerate the uptake and use of the AI tools, technologies and services on offer. techUK has brought together trade associations from across the Industrial Strategy sectors to form a new coalition with a shared purpose: to drive meaningful and responsible AI adoption across the UK economy.

Government has set the UK ambition through the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the 2026 AI Adoption Summit, and the AI Champions' Adoption Plans. The goal is to become the fastest-adopting G7 economy. The gap now is delivery and coordination, not ambition.

1.5%	£47bn	16%	7m+
Potential annual lift in UK productivity from AI adoption.	Potential annual value to the economy over the next decade.	Of businesses currently use AI.	Workers across the eight Industrial Strategy sectors.

Joining techUK in this effort are the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), ADS, Creative UK, Energy UK, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Make UK, and TheCityUK. Together these associations speak for some of the most significant parts of the UK economy, collectively generating around £200 billion in GVA every quarter. Together we are united at a moment when growth depends on businesses moving faster and with greater confidence in AI.

Message by audience:

Government	techUK and the Coalition can be the delivery partner for the AI Champions' sector plans and wider adoption initiatives, offering evidence, convening power and practical asks.
Members and business	techUK bridges AI suppliers and buyers across the eight Industrial Strategy sectors, showcasing real deployments and measurable ROI, and turning adoption into a commercial opportunity.
Media and public	We will showcase real adoption stories in every UK region and sector, backed by the AI Adoption Index: a new independent evidence base on how far adoption has spread.

Key activity:

AI Adoption Forum
A new series of sector-focused events exploring what responsible AI adoption looks like today. Each Forum will share real examples, examine outcomes and create space for peer-to-peer learning.
AI Adoption Index and Conference
In January 2027, techUK will launch its first AI Adoption Index at a dedicated conference. It will show where adoption is happening, where gaps remain and where the next opportunities lie across businesses, sectors and regions.

How can you support:

Industry: come together to share examples and case studies of AI in action, and join forums for peer-to-peer learning, best practice and lessons learned.

Government: meet the Coalition's CEOs to develop practical, scalable next steps that address common barriers to AI adoption.