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British workers estimated to spend £958m on GenAI tools for work, Deloitte finds

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of workers aged 18 to 70 said they knowingly used GenAI for work.

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British workers are spending close to £1bn a year from their own pockets on generative AI (GenAI) tools they use for work, according to research from Deloitte UK.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of workers aged 18 to 70 said they knowingly used GenAI for work.

Among GenAI users, 46% used free tools, 34% used external tools paid for by their employer and 17% used in-house tools.

17% paid for at least one GenAI tool themselves for work.

Nearly a third (31%) used GenAI without their employer’s knowledge, while 24% of UK workers used the tools for work every day.

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65% of GenAI users said their organisation lacked clear leadership on how the technology should be used.

Hayley McKelvey, chief AI officer at Deloitte UK, said: “UK workers are showing they don’t want to wait for permission to use GenAI. 

“Many are already using free tools or pay for premium versions themselves to help them get work done.

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“The challenge is no longer getting people to use GenAI, it’s how businesses meet this growing demand in a way that is secure, responsible and creates lasting value for both the organisation and its people.”

Workers said GenAI saved them an average of 70 minutes a week. 

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Most of that time was used to do more work for the same employer.

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Nearly a quarter (23%) believed there was a stigma around using GenAI at work, while 64% of weekly users worried that managers would think the technology could do their jobs.

McKelvey added: “Workers who feel a stigma around adopting GenAI tools are more likely to conceal their use. 

“Leaders should help their people use AI responsibly, with a clearly articulated and well-understood goal. 

“That means being clear about why their workforce should use GenAI, how it should be used and what success looks like.”

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She said: “This will help people use the tools more consciously, make better decisions, manage risks and add value.’’

Searching for information and drafting emails were the most common uses, both cited by 43%. 

Creating summaries was cited by 31%.

Nearly half (49%) of employees who used GenAI at work had received no formal training on how to use it safely and effectively.

Paul Lee, partner and head of industry insight at Deloitte UK, said: “The story here isn’t that workers are using GenAI, it’s that they are using it despite limited training, patchy guidance and, in some cases, without their employer’s knowledge.

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“What’s particularly striking is how quickly GenAI has become part of everyday working life. 

“Yet for many workers its role remains relatively basic, focused on searching for information and drafting content rather than supporting more complex work.”

Lee added: “The organisations that gain the greatest advantage from AI will be those that move beyond simply providing access to tools and focus on helping people use them with the appropriate guardrails and purpose.”

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