Artificial intelligence may feel like a buzzword at times, but the leaders who are already using it are clear on one thing: AI’s real power is in giving time back, not replacing people. At our recent AI & Data Leaders Roundtable, executives from sectors including legal, tech, and services gathered to exchange honest perspectives on adoption, barriers, and what works. Below is a distilled summary of the conversation (with some additional market context), along with how Maxwell Bond can help you hire the talent to push your AI strategy forward in 2026.

 

1.    The Purpose: Free Time, Not Replace Humans

One of the strongest themes? AI should liberate staff from repetitive, low-value tasks, not replace decision-makers. One participant gave a vivid example: in a clinical context, AI can free staff from manually deleting blank records, giving them back hours or days of focus.

In practical terms, AI’s sweet spot lies in “summarise, research and extract”, tasks that machines can do faster and more consistently. Human judgement remains essential for decisions, nuance, and relationships.

 

2.    From Time-Based to Value-Based Models

Several leaders argued that adopting AI forces a shift in billing and revenue models. If AI reduces time spent, traditional hourly billing becomes less fitting. Instead, firms should consider value-based impact models, charging for outcomes and impact rather than hours.

In sectors like legal, this is especially relevant. For example, in “no-win no-fee” or damages-based agreements, AI’s efficiency could redefine how risk, reward, and fees are structured.

 

3.    Input, Adoption & Culture: The 3 Pillars

Across industries, the leaders distilled AI adoption into three core challenges:

•    Input – refining prompts, selecting the right data, and understanding that output quality depends heavily on the input.
•    Adoption – making sure the tools are used, integrating into workflows, training staff, and overcoming resistance.
•    Culture – building internal buy-in, treating AI as a mindset shift, and educating teams so that AI becomes part of everyday practice, not a novelty.

One attendee summed it up well: “If there is a way to automate it, do it, but when it comes to decision-making, AI can assist but not decide.”

 

4.    Build vs. Buy? Or a Hybrid Approach?

A frequent dilemma: should you build AI in-house or buy third-party solutions? The consensus leaned toward a blended approach. Some key observations:

•    Building in-house gives better control over data and IP, but requires investment and talent.
•    Buying off-the-shelf solutions is faster but can lock you into one-size-fits-all models.
•    Many providers package AI as “included” with their SaaS or consulting offerings, but the results vary widely.
•    One leader shared that they built their own chatbot, a win, because many external providers were more interested in their data than success.

Organisations must start with a clear business problem or goal, not with AI for the sake of AI. The famous statistic from MIT’s State of AI in Business 2025 is top of mind: 95% of AI pilots fail to deliver measurable impact.

Success stories tend to come from pilots that focus on tightly scoped, high-value use cases and invest heavily in adoption, governance, and iteration.

 

5.    The Mindset That Wins

Several speakers emphasised curiosity, learning, and humility. It doesn’t matter whether someone is early or late in their career, those who embrace AI and learn continuously will lead. Others risk falling behind.

As one leader put it: “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI will.”

 

6.    Why This Matters, And How Maxwell Bond Can Help

At this pivotal moment, firms that stand still risk being outpaced. Sectors across the UK, EU, and US are embracing AI to transform operations, legal, HR, sales, and more. But to succeed, you need the right talent and strategy.

That’s where Maxwell Bond steps in. We specialise in recruiting AI, Robotics & Data professionals, both permanent and contract, and can support your leadership teams as you build and scale AI initiatives in 2026. Whether you need data scientists, ML engineers, AI strategy leads, or domain experts, we can connect you with people who know how to make AI work.

And for those who want to join the conversation, we host AI Leaders Roundtables regularly (in-person and virtual), for senior executives across Tech, Legal, Operations, Sales, and HR. Reach out to Andy Holt to attend an upcoming session and network with peers navigating these changes.

👉 Contact Maxwell Bond to hire AI talent or craft your AI strategy for 2026.
👉 Contact Andy Holt to join future AI roundtables.