UK firms dedicate 49% of resilience budgets to AI & tech
UK organisations are channeling almost half of their resilience budgets into artificial intelligence and technology, driven by rising regulatory and operational pressures, according to new research from consultancy Elixirr.
Investment priorities
The findings reveal that 49% of resilience-focused investment in UK businesses is now dedicated to AI and technology. This figure is more than three times the amount spent on supply chain diversification (14%) and upskilling talent (13%).
AI's role has shifted from being a tool for isolated experiments to a central strategy for handling compliance demands and operational disruptions. The research suggests that businesses are prioritising intelligent systems that can anticipate threats and enable faster responses, amid what Elixirr describes as an environment of 'unrelenting regulatory scrutiny'.
Operational rethink
The study found that 87% of business leaders feel increasing regulatory requirements are forcing a major overhaul in how they approach operational resilience. One in four organisations now see agentic AI-systems capable of executing tasks with autonomy-as a top business priority. Half of all respondents reported rapid deployment of such AI agents across multiple departments.
Science, technology, and research firms are at the forefront; 36% report agentic AI as a high focus and 56% are scaling AI across business functions. Retail and education sectors are less advanced, with only 15% and 13% respectively considering agentic AI a priority. Larger companies tend to have dedicated AI teams and report higher gains in compliance, scalability, and speed compared to smaller firms.
Strategy fragmentation
Despite widespread investment, 75% of companies lack a comprehensive AI strategy. The research indicates fragmented ownership: 37% assign AI responsibility to IT or engineering, while other companies rely on Centres of Excellence (29%), hybrid models (28%), or data teams (27%). According to Elixirr, this lack of unified leadership exposes organisations to inconsistent governance and limits the potential benefits of AI-led transformation.
"AI has overtaken tradition as the backbone of resilience, yet too many firms remain stuck in a defensive mindset while others are rewriting the rules entirely. The organisations making real progress are those that go beyond surface-level adoption, embedding AI deep into their operations, reimagining outdated processes, and building a culture that moves at the speed of technology. Playing it safe is now the biggest risk. AI is redrawing the boundaries of what's possible faster than most organisations can adapt," said Adam Hofmann, Principal, Generative AI Strategy & Implementation, Elixirr.
Mixed results
Among those who have embedded AI strategies, 43% of leaders report faster decision-making as a key benefit. Other reported improvements include better compliance (39%), cost savings (38%), scalability (37%), and reduced operational risk (36%). Despite these positive impacts, the lack of a cohesive approach and persistent doubts about return on investment mean organisations are not realising AI's full potential across the board.
"Real resilience in the age of AI isn't built through one-off tools or pilots, it's built by rethinking how your business operates. When people, processes, and technology are redesigned with AI at the core, organisations become more adaptable, more responsive and far better equipped to navigate the change ahead."
