UK workers secretly using AI tools for an edge at work

A new study conducted by The Access Group reveals that a significant portion of UK workers are utilising AI tools covertly to gain an advantage at work.

The research examined responses from over 1,000 UK employees across 12 industries, finding that 35% admitted to using AI in secret to perform tasks meant to be completed personally, without informing their supervisors.

This tendency is more prevalent among younger workers, with 55% of 18-29 year-olds acknowledging this behaviour, compared to only 14% of those over 60.

The beneficial effects of AI on workplace stress were also highlighted. Approximately 59% of UK workers report that access to AI tools has reduced their work-related stress, which aligns with a wider trend of increasing workplace stress. Notably, a reported 875,000 workers experienced stress, depression, or anxiety in 2023, a significant rise since 2008.

Dr Phil Parker, a Health & Happiness Expert, states, "AI could free us for more leisure time, take care of annoying mundane tasks or give teams time to connect and support each other on a more human level."

He adds that AI can be particularly beneficial for neurodiverse individuals or those with anxiety, by managing overwhelming tasks without the biases human interaction can sometimes entail.

AI adoption varies significantly across industries, with tech and finance sectors taking the lead at 74% and 68% respectively. The healthcare, social care, and public sectors are also progressively embracing AI, reported at 45%. The research found that 82% of workers across all sectors believe AI improves their work quality.

Confidence in using AI differs markedly between genders and generations. Men were twice as likely to rate their AI confidence at the highest level compared to women, and women were slightly more inclined to rate their confidence at the lowest level.

Younger generations also expressed more confidence, with 11% of Gen-Z workers rating themselves highly confident, compared to just 2% of workers over 60.

AI is seen as having a positive impact on productivity and innovation, with 82% of employees affirming its role in enhancing job outcomes. However, ensuring adequate integration across various demographics remains a challenge.

Marko Perisic, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at The Access Group, commented on these findings, noting, "The research underscores our view that employees see AI not just as a tool but as a game-changer, enabling them to shift their focus to more meaningful, human-centred tasks."

He emphasises that AI can enhance workflows, increase efficiency, and shift focus towards strategic endeavours.

Despite these advantages, data security remains a concern for many. Almost half of the survey respondents regard data security as a top priority. The Access Group's AI platform, Access Evo, aims to address these concerns by providing a secure environment for data handling.

Marko Perisic adds, "We've designed our AI-enabled software experience Access Evo to operate securely within our platform in a closed environment, ensuring that sensitive data stays protected and isn't exposed to external risks."

The survey indicates that by continuing to leverage AI responsibly while safeguarding data privacy, organisations can reduce stress, save time, cut costs, and enable teams to focus on more rewarding activities.