Vocean Report from Tech Forum 2025
Tech Forum 2025
SCC UK
16 Juni 2025
This report distills the collective insights of over 70 professionals who participated in SCC
UK’s event Tech Forum 2025, an interactive exploration of artificial intelligence’s evolving
role across business and society. Drawing from nearly 160 unique contributions, the report
offers a nuanced overview of the opportunities and challenges organizations face in
adopting AI—from complex technical integration and regulatory uncertainty to workforce
transformation, ethical dilemmas, and environmental concerns. By synthesizing these
diverse perspectives, the report provides actionable guidance for decision-makers,
highlights emerging trends, and underscores the urgent need for responsible, human-
centered, and sustainable AI strategies. It serves as both a snapshot of current readiness
and a roadmap for future leadership in the rapidly advancing AI landscape.
Introduction
In 2025, as artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes industries and societies, forward-
thinking organizations face a pressing imperative: to transform ambitious visions of AI into
responsible, real-world solutions. In response to this challenge and opportunity, Tech Forum
2025: AI in Action was launched—a collaborative initiative designed to engage a diverse set
of professionals, stakeholders, and thought leaders in a structured exploration of AI’s
evolving role in business and society.
Through a series of interactive activities hosted on the Vocean platform, participants were
invited to share firsthand experiences, reflect on pressing challenges, and exchange
strategic ideas regarding AI adoption. Each activity served as a focal point for collective
inquiry, fostering dialogue around both the technical and human dimensions of AI. Topics
ranged from the practical difficulties of integrating AI into legacy systems, to the societal
shifts ushered in by automation, and the complex interplay of innovation, regulation, and
ethics. The process aimed to go beyond abstract discussions, prioritizing real-world
questions and critical issues emerging from those on the front lines of technological change.
The purpose of this final report is to synthesize the knowledge generated throughout the
Tech Forum event into a comprehensive resource for organizations, policymakers,
educators, and innovators. It seeks to illuminate prevailing attitudes, uncover common
barriers, and highlight strategies for navigating the multifaceted landscape of AI
implementation. By integrating insights from multiple activities, the report offers a nuanced
overview of the current state of AI integration—capturing not only hopes and opportunities,
but also risks, uncertainties, and the urgent need for human-centered, sustainable
approaches.
The importance of this report lies in its ability to distill diverse participant perspectives into
actionable intelligence. As the speed and scope of AI acceleration increase, organizations
require clear-eyed guidance to make informed decisions—whether mobilizing technical
upgrades, developing ethical frameworks, fostering workforce readiness, or shaping policy.
This report provides both a snapshot of where organizations are today and a roadmap for
thoughtful, responsible AI transformation, supporting the continued leadership of the UK,
Sweden, and the broader European tech landscape.
Spanning cross-sectoral challenges, emerging trends, and collaborative strategies, the
report’s scope encompasses the insights derived from all process activities. It is intended to
serve as both a reflection of the urgent questions faced by organizations and a catalyst for
ongoing dialogue across the interconnected domains of technology, society, and the
environment.
What challenges are you experiencing with implementing AI in your businesses?
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of modern business,
presenting both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges for organizations
across all sectors. Recognizing the crucial role that AI now plays, guests at SCC UK’s Tech
Forum were given the opportunity to answer the question: “What challenges are you
experiencing with implementing AI in your businesses?” to gather insights directly from
professionals actively engaging with this technology. The purpose of this report is to
synthesize and analyze the collective experiences, concerns, and strategies shared by
participants, with the goal of providing actionable guidance for organizations navigating the
complexities of AI adoption.
As AI integration accelerates, organizations face multifaceted hurdles including technical
limitations, cultural resistance, ethical considerations, regulatory uncertainty, and the sheer
pace of innovation. Understanding these challenges is essential—not only for the effective
deployment of AI solutions, but also for maximizing their value and minimizing associated
risks. The importance of this report lies in its ability to reflect a real-world snapshot of
where businesses are struggling, and by doing so, it helps inform strategic decision-making,
technology selection, workforce development, and policy formulation.
This report draws on the contributions of 45 participants, who collectively submitted 67
unique insights highlighting their firsthand experiences with AI implementation. The scope
of the report covers the identification of prevalent barriers, the analysis of emerging
themes, and a discussion of practical implications, as informed by the diverse perspectives
collected in this activity. By examining both widely shared and nuanced challenges, the
report aims to equip readers with a deeper understanding of the AI adoption landscape and
to foster informed dialogue on best practices for successful AI transformation.
Results
A total of 67 contributions were collected from 45 participants on the challenges of
implementing AI in their businesses. The most frequently cited challenges included
difficulties integrating AI with existing systems, uncertainty around regulatory compliance
and data privacy, lack of trust in AI outputs, and concerns about data quality. Many
participants expressed confusion about where to start with AI implementation and how to
identify the most appropriate tools or use cases for their organizations. Resistance to
change, both at the management and employee level, also emerged as a common barrier.
Other notable themes included apprehension about the rapid pace of AI’s development, the
overwhelming number of available tools, concerns about cost-effectiveness and return on
investment, and a perceived skills gap in the workforce. Issues such as AI transparency,
explainability, risk management, and ethical considerations—such as bias and data
leakage—were frequently mentioned. Several contributions highlighted regulatory
challenges, especially when operating across countries or sectors. Overall, the results reveal
that while there is strong interest in leveraging AI, organizations are grappling with a
complex mix of technical, organizational, and cultural barriers to effective implementation.
Top Contributions
- To know where to start. Everyone talks about AI and its booming everywhere, I have
no idea where we should start to find the right tools that will be most valuable for
our organisation (4 likes) - To get everyone to understand that it is more than just a cool nice to have tool, that
it will actually bring great value for us (3 likes) - Uncertainty about data privacy and regulatory compliance. (2 likes)
- Challenges in obtaining high-quality, clean, and representative data. (2 likes)
- Hard time integrating with existing digital infrastructure (2 likes)
- I see many uses for Ai but I don’t know where to begin the implementation and
make it stick in the organization (2 likes) - Difficulty integrating AI solutions with existing legacy systems. (1 likes)
- Resistance to change within the organization among employees. (1 likes)
- Difficulty in selecting the right AI technologies and vendors. (1 likes)
- Personally I have trust issues with AI. I have worked a lot with AI and know about
their weakness when it comes to hallucinations. I am sure its better now than a
couple of years ago, but I have a hard time getting back the trust, hopefully I will
because the potential of AI is enormous for sure (1 likes)
Common themes
The most common themes emerging from the contributions about implementing AI in
businesses are as follows:
1. Uncertainty and Lack of Knowledge about Where to Start (24%)
A significant portion of participants express confusion about how to begin their AI journey.
Many feel overwhelmed by the vast options, unclear about where AI could bring value, and
unsure of which tools or approaches best suit their organization. This “AI option blindness”
leads to hesitancy and difficulty in translating interest into action.
2. Data Quality, Security, and Privacy Concerns (19%)
Issues related to data—such as ensuring it is high-quality, secure, and compliant with
regulations—are major concerns. Many worry about data leakage, privacy, regulatory
requirements, and the challenges of integrating AI with legacy systems that may not be
ready for advanced technologies.
3. Trust, Reliability, and Ethical Considerations (16%)
A common worry is whether AI systems can be trusted, both in terms of output accuracy
and reliability (e.g., hallucinations, biases), and in understanding how AI reaches decisions.
Users also highlight transparency, explainability, and ethical implications, fearing over-
reliance and the inability to consistently guarantee high standards.
5. Skills, Education, and Talent Gaps (13%)
Many mention the lack of technical expertise, insufficient training opportunities, and the difficulty in upskilling both staff and leadership. There’s also a noted need to educate younger generations and existing employees to prepare them for an AI-centric future.
6. Cost, ROI, and Speed of Change (8%)
Some contributors are concerned about the costs associated with AI adoption and whether
investment will yield tangible returns. Others mention the rapid pace of AI evolution,
worrying that investments may quickly become obsolete as new advancements emerge.
7. Regulatory and Legal Uncertainty (7%)
Navigating complex regulatory environments, especially for businesses that operate across
borders, presents a significant roadblock. Concerns about evolving legal frameworks,
compliance requirements, and risk evaluations are highlighted as barriers to broader
implementation.
These themes reveal that while there is excitement about AI, organizations face
multifaceted barriers—from technical and regulatory to cultural and educational.
Addressing these concerns holistically is key to successful and sustainable AI integration.
Discussion
The findings highlight that organizations are keenly aware of the transformative potential of
AI but are simultaneously challenged by a spectrum of issues that span technology, people,
and processes. The prominence of integration difficulties suggests that existing IT
infrastructures are not always AI-ready, requiring significant investment and expertise to
bridge legacy systems with new AI solutions. This technical friction is compounded by
widespread uncertainty around regulatory compliance and data privacy, indicating that
ongoing legislative developments and cross-border regulations create a moving target for
organizations striving to remain compliant while pursuing innovation.
A recurring theme is the lack of trust in AI-generated outputs and concerns about data
quality. These issues signal the need for better model transparency and governance, as
stakeholders appear hesitant to rely on systems whose decision-making processes are
opaque or whose inputs are questionable. Similarly, the widespread skills gap and confusion
about where to begin reflect that, beyond technical challenges, organizations require clear
strategic guidance and robust training programs to build internal AI capabilities.
Cultural resistance at both management and staff levels further complicates
implementation, revealing that successful AI adoption extends beyond deploying
technology—it demands significant change management and stakeholder engagement.
Apprehension about the rapid evolution and proliferation of AI tools also points to a general
sense of being overwhelmed, suggesting that organizations would benefit from curated best
practices and support to navigate the marketplace.
Ethical concerns—such as bias, lack of explainability, and data leakage—were frequently
mentioned, underlining the importance of embedding responsible AI frameworks into both
development and deployment stages. Finally, the practical realities of cost, return on
investment, and resource allocation remain front of mind for decision-makers, emphasizing
the need for clear, demonstrable value from AI initiatives.
Collectively, these findings illustrate that barriers to AI adoption are deeply interconnected,
spanning the technical, organizational, regulatory, and human domains. Effective strategies
must therefore be multidimensional, combining robust infrastructure, clear governance,
ongoing education, and thoughtful change management to enable sustainable and
responsible AI transformation.
Summary
The report consolidates the perspectives of 45 professionals who shared 67 insights on the
challenges of implementing AI within their organizations. The findings highlight ongoing
struggles with system integration, regulatory compliance, data privacy, data quality, and
building trust in AI outputs. Participants also reported uncertainty regarding how to begin
adopting AI, resistance to change at various organizational levels, and difficulties selecting
appropriate tools amid rapid technological advancement. Concerns regarding cost, return
on investment, workforce skill gaps, and ethical issues such as transparency, explainability,
and bias were prevalent. The collective input underscores that businesses are eager to
benefit from AI but face a diverse set of technical, organizational, and cultural hurdles.
Addressing these challenges will be essential for organizations seeking to unlock AI’s full
potential.
Our Insights of today
Introduction
On June 12, 2025, SCC UK convened an interactive session titled “Our insights of today,”
bringing together 31 participants to exchange perspectives on AI and its growing impact
across technology, business, and society. Through a digital platform, a total of 94
contributions were gathered, reflecting a wide range of experiences, challenges, and
aspirations surrounding the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence. This report
aims to synthesize these diverse insights, analyze emerging themes, and highlight key
discussion points raised by participants.
The primary purpose of this report is to capture and contextualize the collective knowledge
shared during the activity, providing an overview of current attitudes, critical questions, and
innovative ideas about AI’s role in organizational strategy, education, security, sustainability,
and human development. Given the rapid evolution of AI technologies, understanding these
viewpoints is vital, not only to help organizations anticipate future challenges and
opportunities, but also to inform policy-makers, educators, and business leaders about the
readiness, concerns, and priorities of those actively engaged in shaping the AI landscape.
This report encompasses a detailed analysis of all submitted contributions, exploring
recurring topics such as trust, risk management, regulatory needs, workforce
transformation, and the infrastructural and ethical dimensions of AI. By drawing on the
collective wisdom of the participants, the report seeks to inform ongoing strategic decisions
and foster further dialogue on responsible and innovative AI adoption.
Results
A total of 94 contributions were collected from 31 participants during the activity, reflecting
a wide range of insights and questions around the evolving role of artificial intelligence in
society, business, and education. Security, trust, risk management, and regulation emerged
as consistent themes, with participants expressing concerns about the rapid pace of AI
development and the associated risks, such as cyber threats, loss of control, and ethical
considerations. There was a strong focus on organizational challenges, including strategies
for effective AI implementation, workforce upskilling, change management, and ensuring
inclusivity. Several comments highlighted the importance of sustainability, referencing AI’s
energy consumption and environmental impact.
Participants frequently debated the balance between innovation and regulation, as well as
the need for a collaborative, human-centered approach to technology. Many contributions
discussed the transformative impact of AI on the economy, productivity, and education,
with particular emphasis on how to prepare the next generation with relevant skills and
critical thinking abilities. The dominance of major technology players and questions about
Europe’s competitiveness and sovereignty in the tech landscape were also recurring topics.
Overall, the results indicate a community that is both optimistic and cautious, recognizing
AI’s transformative potential while calling for thoughtful governance, ongoing dialogue, and
broad stakeholder involvement to maximize benefits and mitigate risks.
Common Themes
After analyzing the contributions from the digital workshop, several common themes
emerge in the shared insights and questions:
1. Trust, Safety, and Risk in AI
A prominent theme centers around trust—both in the technology itself and in the people
who deliver it. Participants express concerns about the safe adoption and regulation of AI,
highlighting risks such as unknown consequences, lack of clear accountability, and security
threats including data privacy or cyberattacks. The speed of AI development is perceived as
outpacing our ability to create safe environments, with worries that failure to address risks
could have major societal impacts.
2. Human Impact: Work, Skills, and Society
Many contributions discuss how AI will transform jobs, skills requirements, and the role of
humans in the economy. There are doubts about how to reskill workers, the importance of
creativity and humanistic qualities in technology design, and the challenges of ensuring that
AI augments rather than replaces people. Educators are encouraged to prepare students for
an AI-driven future, and there are questions about whether AI will democratize
opportunities or deepen inequalities
3. Regulation, Policy, and Governance
There is strong interest in how governments and organizations should monitor and regulate
AI. Questions are raised about national policies, legal frameworks, and the balance between
fostering innovation and ensuring compliance. The potential for regional strategies, such as
Europe’s AI policies or the significance of geopolitical maneuvers in technology, is also
explored.
4. Implementation Challenges and Opportunity
Several contributions reflect on the practicalities of integrating AI in organizational
settings—how to get started, overcome resistance to change, and make new tools both
accessible and effective. There is also focus on infrastructure readiness, the need for
collaboration among various stakeholders, and the capacity for organizations to measure
success and optimize AI-driven solutions
5. Sustainability and Energy Consumption
The environmental impact of AI, especially increased energy consumption and the use of
data centers, is a recurring concern. Participants discuss ways to address sustainability, such
as reusing excess heat and accounting for AI’s carbon footprint during implementation.
6. The Role of Europe and Competitiveness
Discussion frequently returns to Europe’s place in the global tech race, the influx of venture
capital, and strategies to increase competitiveness against dominant US cloud and AI
companies. Some contributors consider whether Europe needs a transformation of its own
to succeed.
7. The Future of AI: Opportunities, Exponential Growth, and Societal Transformation
Many participants are inspired by AI’s potential to democratize technology, bridge complex topics, and drive economic and technological leaps. However, there is recognition that this
disruption is similar to past industrial revolutions and that long-term impacts—on
everything from GDP to the global economy—remain uncertain.
Collectively, these themes reflect a community grappling with AI’s rapid evolution, balancing
optimism about its possibilities with caution about its risks and societal consequences.
Discussion
The findings from the collected contributions reveal a nuanced perspective within the
participant group—one that acknowledges both the transformative promise of AI and the
accompanying uncertainties. The recurring issues of security, trust, and ethical governance
demonstrate that, while AI is generally perceived as a positive force for societal and
economic progress, significant apprehensions remain regarding its responsible deployment.
Widespread concerns about cyber threats, potential misuse, and the overarching pace of
AI’s advancement are indicative of a desire for more robust risk mitigation strategies and
the establishment of clear regulatory frameworks.
Participants’ strong emphasis on organizational readiness—particularly upskilling, change
management, and inclusivity—suggests that the successful integration of AI depends equally
on technological capability and human adaptability. The dialogue around sustainability also
highlights a broader awareness of AI’s environmental footprint and reinforces the
expectation that innovation should align with long-term societal and ecological goals.
Furthermore, the debate over innovation versus regulation underscores participants’
recognition of the delicate balance required to foster growth without stifling creativity or
introducing unintended harm. Concerns related to the dominance of major technology
players, as well as Europe’s technological sovereignty, point to geopolitical considerations
that extend beyond the purely technological, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts
at multiple levels—organizational, national, and international.
Ultimately, these findings illustrate a community that seeks to harness AI as a tool for
advancement while remaining vigilant to its potential pitfalls. The preference for a human-
centered, inclusive approach reflects an understanding that the challenges posed by AI are
multidimensional and best addressed through interdisciplinary dialogue and stakeholder
engagement. This complex landscape calls for ongoing discussion, adaptive policies, and
continuous learning to ensure that AI’s evolution remains aligned with shared values and
collective interests.
Summary
The report presents a synthesis of 94 contributions from 31 participants, capturing a diverse
set of perspectives on the integration of artificial intelligence across multiple domains. Key
themes include the need for trust, effective risk management, robust regulation, and
consideration of ethical and sustainability issues. Participants highlighted both opportunities
and challenges linked to AI adoption, such as enhancing organizational strategies, workforce
development, and maintaining competitiveness. The insights reveal an engaged community
that recognizes the promise of AI, but emphasizes the importance of responsible governance, collaboration, and proactive preparation to address emerging risks and ensure inclusive, sustainable progress.
Discussion
The results of the Tech Forum 2025 event, covering contributions from two major activities
with a combined participation of over 70 professionals and nearly 160 unique insights,
present a comprehensive and nuanced picture of the current landscape surrounding AI
adoption in organizations and society. Participants collectively convey a blend of
enthusiasm, curiosity, and apprehension—keenly aware of AI’s transformative potential but
persistently challenged by the complexity of real-world implementation.
A clear throughline across both activities is the recognition that AI adoption is not merely a
technological upgrade but a multi-dimensional transformation touching on technical,
organizational, ethical, and societal dimensions. Practical barriers—such as difficulties in
integrating AI into existing digital infrastructures, navigating regulatory and data privacy
uncertainty, and managing issues related to data quality and trust in AI outputs—emerge as
persistent, cross-sector concerns. These technical challenges are intensified by confusion
about where to begin with adoption, which tools or approaches are most appropriate, and
how to measure meaningful return on investment in a landscape characterized by rapid
evolution and information overload.
Organizational and human factors are equally prominent. The resistance to change at both
management and employee levels, the widespread skills and talent gap, and uncertainty
about long-term workforce impacts all highlight that successful AI transformation is as much
a people challenge as a technical one. Participants consistently underscore the need for
clear leadership, robust training programs, and inclusive change management to foster
genuine buy-in and mitigate anxieties about job displacement or workforce transformation.
Ethical issues—such as explainability, transparency, bias, and data leakage—feature heavily
in both activities, reflecting a broader societal debate about the responsible use of AI. The
consensus is that trust in AI will not be achieved solely through technical innovation but also
through transparent governance, effective communication, and embedding ethical
considerations at every stage of development and deployment. The energy footprint and
sustainability of AI solutions also appear as notable concerns, reinforcing the expectation
that technological progress must be balanced with ecological stewardship
Another major theme is the interplay between innovation and regulation. Participants seek
more robust regulatory clarity and policy frameworks, expressing concern that inconsistent
or rapidly shifting local and international rules may stifle innovation or create compliance
burdens that are challenging to navigate—especially for organizations operating across
borders. Simultaneously, the call for careful, human-centered governance is strong, with
many recognizing that AI’s societal impact will be deeply influenced by the choices made by
policy-makers, business leaders, and technology developers today.
The broader social and geopolitical context is not lost on participants, who question
Europe’s competitive positioning in the global AI race, the dominance of large US
technology players, and the need for collective action to ensure technological sovereignty
and ethical leadership. The dialogue demonstrates acute awareness of the risks of falling
behind or being excessively dependent on external platforms, alongside optimism that AI
can serve as a force for democratization and long-term prosperity.
In summary, the discussion highlights a community that is both pragmatic and forward-
looking—eager to unlock the value of AI but insistent that this must be achieved
responsibly, inclusively, and sustainably. The findings suggest that no single intervention will
suffice: overcoming the intertwined technical, cultural, regulatory, and ethical challenges
will require coordinated, multi-stakeholder action, continuous education, adaptive policy-
making, and above all, an ongoing commitment to transparency and dialogue. Only through
such an integrated approach can organizations, and society at large, harness the full
promise of AI while mitigating its associated risks.
Summary
Drawing together the voices and insights of over 70 professionals across the Tech Forum
event. this report reveals both the depth of ambition driving AI adoption and the breadth of
challenges organizations face on their journey toward responsible, impactful
implementation. Participants describe an environment rich with innovation potential yet
fraught with complex barriers: from persistent confusion over where to begin, technical
integration hurdles, and skills shortages, to deeper concerns about trust, ethics, and
regulatory uncertainty. It is clear that successful AI integration requires more than advanced
technologies—it demands strong leadership, continuous learning, inclusive change
management, and ethical stewardship.
The findings emphasize that organizations cannot tackle these interwoven technical,
cultural, and policy challenges in isolation. Sustainable progress calls for coordinated action
between businesses, policymakers, educators, and the wider community, all grounded in
transparency and constructive dialogue. As innovation accelerates, so do expectations for
robust frameworks that safeguard privacy, foster trust, and minimize unintended
consequences, including environmental impacts. At the same time, there is keen awareness
of Europe’s stakes in the global AI landscape and the necessity for sovereign, collaborative,
and human-centered approaches.
In sum, the report offers a grounded snapshot of the current state of AI adoption: a
landscape marked by both formidable obstacles and strong collective will. The path forward
demands multidimensional strategies that balance opportunity with responsibility—
ensuring that AI delivers shared benefits and upholds the values essential to thriving,
equitable societies.