The United Kingdom is gearing up to lead a transformative wave in artificial intelligence (AI), specifically in agentic AI—a new era of technology where AI agents operate autonomously and collaboratively to drive business outcomes. According to Salesforce’s UK AI Readiness Index, the nation is positioned to be a global leader in this third wave of AI innovation, poised to accelerate from 2025 onward.
The UK’s Edge in AI Readiness
The UK scored an impressive 65.5 on the AI Readiness Index, surpassing the G7 average of 61.2. The index highlights the UK’s robust innovation culture, pragmatic regulatory environment, and willingness to embrace AI as a driver of economic growth.
Zahra Bahrololoumi, UKI CEO at Salesforce, underscores the significance of this milestone:
“Agentic AI is revolutionising enterprise software by enabling humans and agents to collaborate seamlessly and drive customer success. The UK has both the vision and infrastructure to be a global powerhouse.”
The report showcases Britain’s unique ability to balance innovation with accountability. Government initiatives like the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park and proactive AI legislation further bolster confidence in the UK’s leadership.
Business Readiness for Agentic AI
UK businesses are increasingly embracing AI, scoring 52 on the readiness scale—well above the G7 average of 47.8. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are prioritizing AI adoption to improve productivity and competitiveness.
Adam Evans, EVP & GM of Salesforce AI Platform, predicts that by 2025, agentic AI will mature into business-aware systems capable of addressing industry-specific challenges autonomously. This paradigm shift is expected to redefine productivity and decision-making in enterprises worldwide.
Investment as a Catalyst for AI Growth
Salesforce is committing $4 billion to the UK’s AI ecosystem over the next five years, focusing on:
- Strengthening cross-sector partnerships.
- Ensuring SMEs have access to AI resources.
- Building a skilled AI workforce through centralized training programs.
The government’s collaboration with private enterprises is crucial for maintaining the UK’s momentum. Feryal Clark, Minister for AI and Digital Government, asserts:
“We’re in a global race for AI. Our plans will ramp up adoption across the economy, foster growth, and build an AI sector that can scale globally.”
Agentic AI in Action
Companies like Capita and Secret Escapes are already leveraging Salesforce’s Agentforce platform to revolutionize their operations. For example:
- Capita uses agentic AI to streamline its recruitment processes, aiming to reduce the candidate journey from weeks to days.
- Secret Escapes personalizes travel services for its 60 million members, automating routine tasks like cancellations and booking updates while empowering customer service agents to focus on complex queries.
Adolfo Hernandez, CEO of Capita, highlights the game-changing nature of autonomous agents in creating seamless and efficient customer experiences.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Leadership
The UK’s leadership in agentic AI is a testament to its collaborative approach across government, industry, and academia. However, maintaining this position will require:
- Continued investment in AI talent and education.
- Support for SMEs to scale AI innovations.
- Regulatory flexibility to encourage global competitiveness.
As agentic AI becomes mainstream, the UK’s efforts could serve as a blueprint for countries aiming to harness AI’s transformative power.
Conclusion
Agentic AI isn’t just a technological shift; it’s an economic and societal revolution. With the UK’s readiness to lead, businesses, policymakers, and innovators must work together to fully realize this potential. As 2025 approaches, the UK is not only adapting to AI’s future—it’s shaping it.
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Sources: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/salesforce-uk-set-lead-agentic-ai-revolution/, https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/06/salesforce-to-open-new-ai-center-in-london-in-uk-investment-drive.html
