The fastest-growing companies in the UK are planning to use more artificial intelligence in the next 12 months to help them stay ahead of their rivals. Bosses of firms enjoying double-digit growth said AI is important for spotting new business opportunities in their sector, developing new ideas and making decisions, according to research released by Microsoft. However, the urgency to use more cutting-edge technology is not replicated in companies who are growing more slowly or not at all, with most saying they aim to adopt AI in the next three years. Susan Etlinger, an AI analyst with the Altimeter Group who partnered with Microsoft on the study, said: "What's striking about the research is the difference between double-digit growth companies and those with lower growth. Double-digit growth companies are further along in their AI deployments, but also see a greater urgency in using AI. They are focused primarily on the coming year, while lower-growth companies are planning in more like a five-year increment. What this suggests is that the more you know about AI, the greater your sense of urgency."