As we navigate the evolving digital landscape in 2025, UK Chief Data Officers face perhaps their most significant transformation yet. The emergence of agentic AI - sophisticated autonomous systems capable of reasoning, planning and executing complex tasks with minimal human intervention - is fundamentally reshaping organisational data strategies and CDO responsibilities.

This evolution builds directly upon the trends we previously explored, where AI has become the primary driver of digital transformation and organisations are increasingly focused on moving from being mere “AI takers” to strategic “AI makers” in line with the UK's national AI Opportunities Action Plan.

From data custodians to autonomy architects

The initial mandate of UK CDOs primarily revolved around data governance, quality and compliance, particularly following GDPR implementation and subsequent regulatory developments. However, as agentic AI systems gain prominence, this remit is expanding dramatically.

According to recent research from Gartner, “By 2026, over 60% of CDOs will have formal responsibility for governing autonomous AI agents within their organisations, up from less than 10% in 2023” (Gartner, 2025).

This represents a fundamental shift from being data gatekeepers to becoming architects of intelligent automation.

UK CDO impact: British organisations, with their strong emphasis on ethical AI development and data protection under ICO guidelines, face particularly complex governance challenges. CDOs must develop comprehensive frameworks for governing not just data but the behaviour and outputs of autonomous agents. This includes:

• Addressing algorithmic bias in autonomous systems
• Ensuring explainable AI decision processes
• Establishing clear accountability mechanisms when agents operate independently

This expanded governance role requires CDOs to collaborate closely with legal and compliance teams to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding autonomous AI in the UK context.

AI enablement as a strategic imperative

The rise of agentic AI necessitates a shift in the CDO's strategic focus from providing data insights to enabling AI innovation across their organisation. As the UK government's AI Action Plan emphasises, organisations must move beyond merely consuming AI capabilities developed elsewhere to developing distinctive AI capabilities aligned with strategic priorities.

“Successful CDOs in this environment are those who can identify high-value use cases for autonomous agents while navigating the regulatory and ethical complexities unique to their sectors,” notes Andrew Thompson, UK Director of the AI Safety Institute (AISI, 2025).

UK CDO impact: Post-Brexit, British organisations are increasingly looking to AI to boost productivity and competitiveness. CDOs must become the bridge between technical capabilities and business outcomes, applying the “Scan > Pilot > Scale” methodology recommended in the UK's AI Opportunities Action Plan to agentic AI implementations specifically.

Building an autonomy-ready organisation

The successful deployment of agentic AI requires both talent and organisational readiness. The UK faces a significant skills gap, with recent reports estimating “a shortage of over 40,000 AI specialists across UK industries by 2026” (Tech Nation, 2025).

For CDOs, this translates into broader responsibility for developing AI talent strategies. Key priorities include establishing clear career pathways for AI specialists, creating upskilling programmes for existing data professionals and developing partnerships with academic institutions. Implementing diversity initiatives to expand the talent pool is also critical, particularly given the well-documented challenges with representation in technical AI roles across British industry.

UK CDO impact: British organisations face unique talent challenges post-Brexit. CDOs should consider participating in initiatives like the UK AI Skills Alliance and leveraging the government's planned expansion of Master's and PhD programmes in AI-related disciplines. Many leading UK organisations are now implementing “AI agent literacy” programmes for non-technical staff to ensure broader organisational readiness for working alongside autonomous systems.

Governance frameworks for autonomous systems

Perhaps the most complex challenge facing CDOs is developing governance frameworks specifically designed for autonomous systems. Traditional data governance approaches are insufficient when systems can make decisions and take actions with limited human oversight.

Recent research from Imperial College London highlights that “organisations with mature AI governance frameworks are three times more likely to successfully scale agentic AI implementations compared to those with ad-hoc approaches” (Imperial College London, 2025).

UK CDO impact: The UK's “pro-innovation” regulatory approach, while beneficial for development, requires CDOs to establish robust internal governance mechanisms. Consider adopting the assessment frameworks developed by the AI Safety Institute (AISI) for evaluating frontier models, particularly for high-risk applications.

Active engagement with sector regulators through regulatory sandboxes can help shape governance approaches that enable rather than hinder innovation.

Infrastructure integration challenges

Agentic AI systems require robust technical foundations, creating significant integration challenges for many organisations. A recent survey of UK enterprises found that “65% cite integration with legacy systems as their primary technical barrier to implementing autonomous AI agents” (TechUK, 2025).

CDOs must architect secure and scalable data pipelines that can support agentic AI while ensuring interoperability with existing enterprise applications. The UK's emphasis on cloud adoption as an enabler for AI scale, as highlighted in both government strategy and industry research, makes this particularly relevant.

UK CDO impact: British organisations operating in a hybrid IT environment face unique challenges. CDOs should develop integrated infrastructure roadmaps that address UK-specific data sovereignty requirements while enabling AI innovation at scale. The government's establishment of 'AI Growth Zones' (AIGZs) may provide opportunities for organisations looking to expand their AI infrastructure. Many leading UK organisations have found success in creating dedicated “agent sandboxes” that allow autonomous systems to operate in contained environments with controlled access to production systems, reducing integration complexity whilst maintaining security.

Measuring impact and ROI

As with any technological advancement, demonstrating tangible business value remains essential. However, measuring the ROI of agentic AI presents unique challenges compared to traditional data initiatives.
“ROI frameworks for autonomous systems must account for both direct efficiency gains and more nuanced strategic advantages such as improved decision velocity and enhanced customer experiences,” notes the UK AI Council (2025).

UK CDO impact: British boards are particularly focused on tangible returns from technology investments. CDOs should develop measurement frameworks specifically aligned with UK business metrics and reporting standards, with particular attention to value-for-money requirements in the public sector.

Practical next steps for CDOs

To position your organisation for success in the age of agentic AI, consider these strategic priorities:

• Develop an agentic AI governance framework with clear protocols for deployment, monitoring and intervention
• Create an AI agent registry documenting all autonomous systems, their capabilities and operational boundaries
• Establish a cross-functional ethics committee to review high-risk agent deployments
• Implement continuous monitoring mechanisms with clear human intervention protocols
• Position your organisation at the forefront of digital transformation by mastering the transition from data custodian to autonomy architect

Join us at the upcoming Richmond CDO Forum in November, where UK data leaders will share practical insights on navigating the agentic AI implementation journey.