Two in three IT leaders admit their current infrastructure cannot support AI and analytics workloads at scale, according to a new report from Dell. The finding exposes a widening gap between corporate AI ambitions and the plumbing required to deliver them.

What You Need to Know

Dell's research shows that 64% of IT leaders say their infrastructure is not fully prepared for AI and analytics at scale. UK businesses trail their EMEA counterparts, with 61% lacking a clear roadmap for AI, data and security compared with 46% across the wider region. More than half of respondents say security and compliance concerns have already slowed or delayed their AI strategies. The report also flags outdated end-user devices and the rising role of AI PCs as part of the broader infrastructure equation.

UK Firms Lag Behind EMEA on AI Readiness

The report paints a stark picture of regional divergence. Some 61% of British firms lack a clear roadmap covering AI, data and security, compared with 46% across EMEA. That 15-point gap suggests UK enterprises are struggling to convert board-level AI enthusiasm into operational plans.

Legacy infrastructure emerges as the common culprit on both sides of the divide. Nearly two-thirds of IT leaders say their systems are not yet fully prepared to support AI and analytics workloads at scale, highlighting substantial gaps between ambition and reality.

Compliance complexity compounds the problem. More than half of respondents say security and compliance concerns have already slowed or delayed their AI strategies, while 64% of leaders worry about regulatory compliance when using their data for AI.

Why This Matters

The infrastructure gap has direct consequences for enterprises that have already committed budget to AI initiatives. Companies that cannot feed data into models at scale will see returns stall, and the cost of retrofitting legacy systems will rise the longer they wait.

For technology suppliers, the findings validate a shift in spending priorities. Hardware refresh cycles, data governance tooling and endpoint modernization are becoming prerequisites rather than optional upgrades. Dell and its rivals stand to benefit from this reallocation, but only if they can demonstrate measurable productivity gains.

Regulatory pressure adds a second layer of risk. Firms operating across multiple jurisdictions must reconcile differing data rules, and 64% of leaders already cite compliance as a barrier. This creates a competitive advantage for organizations with mature governance frameworks and a drag on those without them.

Devices and AI PCs Enter the Equation

Infrastructure extends beyond data centers to the devices employees use every day. Nearly all respondents (92%) agree that modern devices boost productivity, yet four in five (79%) say outdated hardware is holding them back.

AI PCs are emerging as a focal point. Some 86% of EMEA leaders now agree that AI PCs will play an important role in their strategies going forward. As of the beginning of 2026, AI PCs accounted for around 44% of all PC shipments, according to Omdia tracking, marking a steady rise.

  • Legacy infrastructure: 64% of IT leaders say their systems cannot support AI at scale.
  • Compliance concerns: 55% say security and regulatory issues have delayed AI strategies.
  • Outdated devices: 79% report that aging hardware hinders productivity.
  • AI PC adoption: 86% of EMEA leaders see AI PCs as important to future strategy.

Steve Young, UK&I MD and Dell SVP, framed the challenge as one of integration. "The focus is shifting from exploring what's possible to connecting the infrastructure, data, security and workplace technology needed to turn AI into real business value at scale," he said.

What You Need to Know

Two clear obstacles stand out in Dell's findings. The first is a complex regulatory environment that forces enterprises to navigate overlapping data rules across jurisdictions. The second is an expensive PC market driven by component shortages, which raises the cost of refreshing endpoint hardware.

Both factors push AI deployment timelines outward. Firms that treat infrastructure and compliance as afterthoughts will find themselves outpaced by competitors that built governance and scalability into their plans from the start.

The report's central message is that AI value depends on foundations. Without modern compute, clean data pipelines and compliant security postures, even well-funded AI projects will struggle to move beyond pilot stages.