Four Million People in the UK Using Generative AI at Work

More than a quarter of the UK’s working population (26%) have used generative AI at work, according to the findings from Deloitte’s 2023 Digital Consumer Trends research.

Of those that have tried a generative AI tool, almost a third (30%) say that they only used it once or twice, with 28% using it weekly. One in ten (9%) say they use an AI tool at least once a day.

More than two-thirds (70%) of respondents who have used the technology have done so for personal use, while 34% have used it for education purposes. More than half (56%) of 16-19 year olds who have used generative AI technologies in education.

However, Deloitte said that generative AI technology relatively nascent, with user interfaces, regulatory environment, legal status and accuracy still a work in progress.

And of the four million people using it in the workplace, only 23% believe their employer would approve of them using Generative AI.

Global AI and data lead at Deloitte, Costi Perricos, said: “With millions of people using Generative AI tools in the workplace, potentially without permission, it is critical that employers offer appropriate guidelines and guardrails so that their people know how, when and where they can use the technology. Businesses will also need to consider how they communicate their own policies on generative AI to customers and understand how their suppliers are using the technology to ensure transparency. People need to understand the risk and inaccuracies associated with content generated purely from AI, and where possible be informed when content, such as text, images or audio is AI-generated.”

Among all respondents that have heard of generative AI, 64% believe it may reduce the overall number of jobs available in the future. Furthermore, almost half (48%) of those aware of Generative AI believe it may replace some of their role in the workplace.

Perricos added: “In anticipation of generative AI increasingly becoming a fixture of the workplace, organisations should prioritise upskilling their workers to thrive alongside this technology. Generative AI has the potential to not only replace routine tasks but also create higher-skilled, non-routine opportunities across the labour market. A key focus for employers should be on how to use these new tools so that they can be applied correctly and create value. This shift is ongoing and set to continue in the coming decades.”