What does it take to move from AI experimentation to real business impact?

Recording during Google Cloud Summit London 2026 at Tobacco Dock, I had the opportunity to speak with Maureen Costello, Vice President for UKI and Sub-Saharan Africa at Google Cloud, about one of the biggest shifts currently taking place across technology and business. After years of discussion around generative AI, the focus is now turning toward agentic AI and how organizations can put these capabilities to work in practical, measurable ways.

Maureen offered a fascinating view from the front line of AI adoption, sharing how businesses across financial services, retail, government, and other sectors are beginning to move beyond pilots and proof-of-concept projects. We discussed how AI is helping organizations improve customer experiences, increase productivity, strengthen decision-making, and create new opportunities for growth. From helping banks tackle financial crime and deliver smarter customer services to supporting government departments in modernizing public services, the conversation is filled with examples that bring the technology to life.

We also explored why the UK is so well positioned for the next chapter of AI adoption. With world-class research, exceptional talent, and ambitious investment across both the public and private sectors, Maureen believes the UK has a genuine opportunity to remain at the forefront of AI innovation. She also explained why skills development, data readiness, security, governance, and trust will play such an important role as organizations begin introducing AI agents into everyday workflows.

What I particularly enjoyed was discussing the human side of this transition. As AI becomes embedded into business operations, how should leaders prepare their teams? What separates organizations that achieve meaningful outcomes from those that struggle to move beyond the early excitement? And how can businesses strike the right balance between innovation, responsibility, and long-term value?

Whether you're following the announcements from Google Cloud Summit London, building your own AI strategy, or simply trying to understand where this technology is heading next, this conversation offers valuable insight into one of the most talked-about topics in business today.

What role do you think agentic AI will play inside your organization over the next 12 months, and are businesses finally moving from curiosity to meaningful adoption?