UK businesses racing to adopt artificial intelligence are being put at risk – not by junior staff or immature technology, but by their own senior leadership, according to new research from the UK’s leading tech and transformation specialist.
The survey of more than 2,000 UK tech workers, commissioned by La Fosse, has found that the riskiest users of AI are the executives responsible for governance, combining high usage, weak oversight, and a willingness to override expertise.
More than half (52 per cent) of all tech workers report that AI decisions have been made without the right expertise – and this isn’t just frontline cynicism. 65 per cent of C-suite executives acknowledge that such decisions occur at the most senior level.
And the executives responsible for AI governance are also the most likely to engage in high-risk behaviours.
The survey uncovers a worrying pattern:
- 93 per cent of C-level executivessay they have made decisions based on AI outputs generated from inaccurate data
- Nearlythree-quarters (73 per cent) of C-suite executives admit to uploading confidential company data into AI tools – almost double the rate of entry-level staff* (42 per cent) and far higher than intermediate-level employees (35 per cent). Directors are slightly higher at 74 per cent
- 78 per cent of C-suite executivesrely on AI for work they are not trained to do, compared with fewer than half of junior and mid-level staff
These high-stakes decisions carry tangible consequences: 40 per cent of C-suite executives report serious business impacts from AI errors, compared with 32 per cent of entry-level staff* and just 11 per cent of intermediate employees.
“The people with the greatest autonomy over AI are also the ones most exposed to its risks,” comments Ollie Whiting, CEO of La Fosse. “Concentrated at the top of organisations, this risk is often hidden behind confidence and speed, while gaps in governance, skills, and accountability widen beneath the surface. Organisations must ensure leaders have the right expertise before these decisions cause real business impact.”
The research shows a clear trend: greater responsibility, autonomy, and time pressure at senior levels translates into greater exposure to AI risk. C-suite executives and directors use AI more intensively, for higher-stakes decisions, and operate with less oversight than their teams.
Interestingly, entry-level staff – while less likely to engage in risky AI behaviours – report higher rates of serious business impact (32 per cent) than middle management (17 per cent) or intermediate staff (11 per cent). When errors happen at the front line, consequences can still be severe.
Unchecked overconfidence at the top is putting organisations at serious risk. Closing the awareness gap requires recognising that senior leaders such as C-level executives and directors may need additional support, while specialist expertise is also lacking across the broader workforce.
The survey also found that half (50 per cent) of tech workers expect AI to lead to job losses at their company within three years, signalling a workforce bracing for disruption.
Ollie Whiting adds: “Even the most experienced experts are still learning about AI – and those in the C-suite scrutinising their own confidence, competence, and AI-related decision making thoroughly are going to win long-term. Organisations need to be willing to look beyond the headlines, confront uncomfortable realities, and take action before those risks compound.
“Our purpose at La Fosse is to deliver the future-proof technology talent organisations need to succeed,” he adds. “We work closely with leaders under pressure to move quickly and stay competitive, and understand the enormous opportunity AI presents.”
To support senior leaders navigating AI decisions, La Fosse has launched a free whitepaper which provides businesses with a more comprehensive picture of its usage in the workplace, along with a roadmap to responsible adoption and minimisation of risk.
Find out more about the AI in the Workplace whitepaper here.
