Working Brits are struggling to keep up with AI
Britain’s workforce is showing signs of AI fatigue just as politicians and business leaders demand faster adoption of the technology.
New research from Henley Business School found 61 per cent of workers feel overwhelmed by the pace of AI change in the workplace, while nearly two-thirds of AI users admit they sometimes choose not to use AI tools even when they are available.
Professor Keiichi Nakata, director of AI and Automation at Henley’s World of Work Institute, said employers risk underestimating the scale of change workers are being asked to absorb.
“Employees are not rejecting AI,” he said. “But many are struggling to keep pace with the speed of change and the lack of support around them.”
Over the past year, ministers, executives and investors have largely focused on one question: how quickly can Britain embrace AI?
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to make Britain an AI superpower, while former prime minister Tony Blair recently argued countries and companies would “rise or fall” based on how they respond to the technology. Morgan McSweeney this week warned democracies risk falling behind if they fail to embrace AI.
Yet while Westminster debates how quickly adoption can happen, workers appear increasingly uncertain about where the technology is taking them.
Only 11 per cent of workers describe themselves as confident about AI, while “cautious” has become the most common feeling associated with its use at work.
More than four in ten worry they are becoming overly dependent on the technology, while 35 per cent fear losing critical thinking skills over time.
AI outruns workers
A Morning Wire/Freshwater Strategy poll published this week found two-thirds of voters have already used tools such as Chatgpt or Claude, rising to more than four in five under-35s.
Yet widespread adoption has not translated into confidence, with Henley’s research finding that 60 per cent of workers either have no AI guidance in place at work or are unsure whether such guidance exists.
More than a third said they would consider leaving an employer that failed to provide adequate AI training or support, whichcreates a problem for businesses racing to deploy AI in pursuit of productivity gains.
Separate research from spend management provider Soldo found 27 per cent of employees admitted purchasing AI tools without approval over the last year, while almost half of finance leaders acknowledged gaps in their organisation’s AI governance framework. Nearly a quarter said governance measures were minimal or non-existent.
The rise of so-called “shadow AI” – where staff use tools outside official company systems – has become a growing concern for executives worried about data security, compliance and accuracy.
The research also suggests workers remain conflicted about AI’s long-term impact.
More than a third fear the technology could replace their role, rising to 44 per cent among Gen Z workers.
Yet younger workers also appear more willing to embrace AI-led workplaces, with 59 per cent saying they would be comfortable with AI directing aspects of their work.
There are signs workers still see potential benefits, with more than half believing AI could help support shorter working weeks or even four-day-week models.