Dentons report highlights Legal and Strategic Pathways to Realize AI Ambitions

A new report from Dentons, Laws of AI Traction, identifies the critical disconnect between organizations’ AI ambitions and actionable strategies, shaped by a shifting regulatory landscape. The report is based on a survey of 450 senior leaders—including CEOs, COOs, and General Counsels across the UK, Ireland, and the Middle East—revealing that while confidence in AI is high, regulatory uncertainties are holding back substantial investment decisions.

Dentons’ survey underscores two dominant themes. On one side, optimism is evident, with 70% of leaders seeing AI as key to future growth, and over half expecting AI to drive 11-20% of revenue in three years. Yet, regulatory uncertainty is creating what Dentons calls an “ambiguity trap.” Nearly 70% of leaders hesitate on AI investments due to regulatory risks, with 73% expressing concern over fragmented global regulations. Despite AI’s recognized potential, nearly two-thirds have yet to establish formal AI implementation roadmaps.

Middle Eastern organizations in the survey display a strong but cautious engagement with AI. While AI is widely used for IT and cybersecurity (40%), workforce planning (37%), and finance (36%), many businesses remain in early planning stages, with 54% still developing internal roadmaps. Skills shortages, particularly in Saudi Arabia (61%) and the UAE (59%), represent a prominent concern.

According to Dentons CEO Paul Jarvis, this gap in AI action versus ambition reflects hesitancy amid uncertain regulations. He emphasizes that businesses should adopt “AI Traction,” integrating strategic planning, risk management, and governance to harness AI’s advantages responsibly.

The Laws of AI Traction report advises businesses to drive AI adoption with a focus on three areas:

• Corporate Agility: Building flexible structures to capture AI opportunities.
• Workforce Transformation: Equipping teams for AI-driven changes.
• Digital Resilience: Strengthening data management and governance.

Through these frameworks, Dentons aims to bridge ambition with practical AI adoption, helping companies leverage AI in a rapidly evolving legal environment.