AI adoption brings strong time & cost savings for UK workers

New research from HP and YouGov has found that artificial intelligence is leading to significant time savings and changes in job satisfaction for British workers, but adoption is being slowed by concerns around security, skills gaps, and lack of clear strategy.

The findings indicate that 72% of British employees who use AI at work are saving time each week, with one in ten saving more than five hours weekly. Many respondents cited less time spent on repetitive tasks, enabling a shift to higher-value work.

The report, based on surveys of over 1,000 British workers conducted by YouGov for HP, also highlights financial benefits for organisations already utilising AI. One in three business leaders whose organisations use AI said it has delivered more than 11% in cost savings. Nearly half of these leaders stated that AI helps reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and 34% reported improvements in decision making and strategic planning.

Despite the tangible advantages, not all businesses are progressing at the same pace. The research noted that while 44% of senior decision-makers expect AI to be fully embedded into business processes by 2027, more than a quarter say their organisation still does not have a formal AI strategy.

Security concerns were identified as the top barrier to adoption, cited by 20% of respondents. A lack of internal expertise followed, mentioned by 14%, and other respondents pointed to difficulties in proving return on investment as an obstacle.

Neil Sawyer, HP's Managing Director for Northwest Europe, said: "AI is no longer a 'nice to have' – it's a business imperative. Companies that fail to act now risk falling behind their competitors, losing productivity, and missing out on the efficiency gains AI is already delivering. By embedding AI directly into secure, familiar devices, organisations can overcome trust and usability challenges — and scale adoption with confidence."

Device-level AI was seen as a potential solution to these challenges. The study found 54% of business leaders would be more likely to adopt AI if it was built into employee devices, which would allow for more secure and integrated use. From the employee perspective, 29% said they would use AI more if it was embedded in existing tools, and 10% said they would increase usage if it did not require an internet connection.

AI-enabled personal computers, which offer intelligence built into the device, are viewed as a direct path to addressing barriers such as security and ease of deployment, while positioning organisations to scale AI adoption safely and effectively.

The research also addressed the human implications of AI adoption in the workplace. It found that 38% of employees using AI said it has improved their work-life balance, and 33% reported reduced stress levels. Nearly one in four respondents said their job satisfaction had increased since adopting AI, supporting the view that AI can support both efficiency and workplace engagement.

The study highlighted that as AI automates routine digital tasks, employees have more capacity to focus on meaningful work. It challenges the idea that efficiency and engagement are mutually exclusive, suggesting AI can increase both simultaneously.

Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group, commented: "AI empowers businesses to unlock unprecedented performance and foster creativity by automating mundane tasks, ultimately freeing up human capital to focus on strategic initiatives and achieve a healthier work-life balance. By handling routine processes and providing intelligent insights, AI enables employees to dedicate their energy to innovation and complex problem-solving, leading to greater job satisfaction and superior business outcomes."

The results are drawn from two surveys conducted by YouGov: one of 1,055 British workers, including 517 who use AI at work, and another of 1,010 business decision makers. The surveys were designed to provide insights into the current state of AI adoption within UK businesses and the employee experience of using AI.