UK employees are emerging as Europe’s leaders in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools for work, according to a new global survey from Freshworks.
While AI faced initial scepticism, the findings reveal a shift in attitudes, with a quarter of UK employees now using AI tools daily and 46% of them integrating these into their routines at least a few times a week.
The survey, which included responses from 1,500 employees from the UK, Germany, and France, shows that 52% of UK employees consider themselves knowledgeable or expert users of AI.
The UK leads in adopting AI for repetitive tasks, with 65% of employees preferring AI to handle mundane activities. This allows workers to focus on more engaging tasks, improving enjoyment (40%) and overall engagement at work (36%).
However, employees remain cautious about AI replacing human-centric responsibilities, such as customer interactions and conflict resolution.
AI’s role in shaping the future workplace is not to be neglected. More than half (52%) of UK companies already recognise AI proficiency as a key skill for promotions, and 63% are investing in upskilling employees in AI to enhance competitiveness.
Comparatively, UK employees demonstrate higher confidence in using AI (60%) than their counterparts in Germany (45%) and France (42%). This widespread adoption positions the UK workforce to leverage AI for improved productivity and innovation, setting a benchmark for European nations.