PwC Report Finds AI Use in UK Workplaces Rises, Yet Workloads Grow

AI Adoption in UK Workplaces

A new report from PwC has found that 19% of UK workers now use AI every day at work, up from 15% the previous year, according to TechRadar. While this indicates growing adoption, the research also highlights significant disparities in who uses AI and how it impacts their work.

The gap between seniority levels is particularly striking: 85% of senior executives and 73% of managers have used AI, compared to only 35% of non-managers. This uneven uptake suggests that access to and experience with AI tools may be concentrated among leadership roles.

Mixed Impact on Workloads and Job Complexity

Despite the increase in usage, PwC argues that AI is not necessarily making work easier. Among employees who use AI, 70% say it has helped improve the quality of their work, 63% say it allows them to use more of their skills, and 58% believe it brings value to the workplace. However, nearly half (44%) report that their workloads have increased after using AI, and a similar proportion (45%) are concerned that their jobs have become more complex.

This tension between perceived benefits and rising demands suggests that simply deploying AI tools may not automatically lead to reduced burden. Instead, it may shift the nature of work in ways that require careful management.

Redesigning Work, Not Just Adding AI

PwC UK Chief Innovation and Technology Officer Claire Reid emphasised that employers and employees need to "rethink how work gets done" rather than just focusing on increasing quality or quantity. She stated: "The real prize isn’t just doing more work; it’s redesigning work so that people and AI together can deliver better outcomes."

Reid added that organisations should "rethink work around the right problems, give people the skills and confidence to use AI well, and put the right safeguards around it." This perspective implies that successful AI integration depends on restructuring workflows and providing adequate training, not merely adopting new technologies.

Barriers to Broader Adoption

The disparity in AI use across seniority levels may stem from several factors. According to PwC, many employees fear negative consequences if they experiment with AI, are confused about their employer's policy, or feel they need more training. A clearer strategy and better communication could help bridge this gap, enabling more workers to benefit from AI's positive impacts.

Implications for Employers and Employees

For employers, the findings highlight the need to develop clear AI policies, offer comprehensive training, and address concerns about job complexity and workload. Simply encouraging AI use without addressing these underlying issues may lead to increased stress and inefficiency. For employees, particularly those in non-managerial roles, greater access to AI tools and the skills to use them effectively could be crucial for staying competitive.

The PwC report, covered by TechRadar, underscores that the true value of AI lies not in doing more work, but in redesigning work to enhance outcomes for both people and organisations. As AI continues to permeate the workplace, the focus should shift from adoption metrics to thoughtful integration that supports workers and improves overall productivity.