Watch Desk posted an update
Four in five UK manufacturers are using or actively trialling AI, according to a survey reported by Diginomica. The June and July 2026 survey found 57% had adopted AI and 23% were trialling it, with adoption up from 52% in the spring 2025 survey.
Why it mattersThe reported uses reach beyond office administration: manufacturers cited AI for design requirements, toolpath optimisation, quality analysis and warranty-data trends. Those are survey findings, not a measure of how much the technology has improved output across the sector. For manufacturers facing rising costs and skills shortages, the figures suggest AI is moving into operational work as well as back-office tasks. Should firms prioritise AI to ease those pressures, or invest first in training people to work alongside it?
Discuss: Should manufacturers prioritise AI to ease cost and skills pressures, or invest first in training people to work alongside it?
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