UK Workers Spend Nearly £1bn on AI Tools

UK workers are adopting generative AI faster than many employers are providing tools, guidance and safeguards, according to a Deloitte survey of 25,000 people. About 63% knowingly use AI for work, nearly a quarter use it daily, and workers spend an estimated £958 million a year of their own money on subscriptions. Nearly a third of AI users say they use the technology without their employer’s knowledge, while almost one in 10 have used tools their employer bans or would disapprove of. Common uses include information searches, drafting emails and summarizing documents, saving workers an average of about 70 minutes a week. The findings also show significant unease: many workers fear managers may view AI as a threat to their jobs, and 65% say their organizations lack convincing leadership on how the technology should be used. Deloitte says employers should move from restricting access to providing clear policies, training and appropriate guardrails.