AI and Automation · Trend
AI use is growing in the UK: what could it make easier at work?
Try one small task to see whether AI helps with your work. Include the time needed to check and correct its output.
Content updated: 27/10/2026What is changing?
In the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey, the share of businesses reporting AI use rose from 9% in September 2023 to 30% in September 2026. The overall rate changed little between June and September 2026.
How do we know?
In a separate official business survey, 21% of AI users said their AI tools worked within existing business software. The surveys cover different groups and periods; their percentages are not compared here.
Who is affected, and how?
For employees and business owners, a possible benefit is spending less time on repetitive tasks. Our practical takeaway: decide which task you want to make easier and who will check the result.
What can I do?
Choose one task and note how long your current method takes. Run a small trial using information you are allowed to share. Compare total time, including checking and corrections, and any mistakes. Continue if it helps; otherwise change the approach or leave it for now.
Where should I be careful?
These findings are limited to the UK survey populations, not estimates for Turkey or guarantees of profit. Greater use does not prove fewer errors. A tool can also be useful without connecting to existing software.
Evidence and limitations (2)
ONS — AI use in businesses (8 October 2026) ↗
Reported AI use: 9% in September 2023 and 30% in September 2026; broadly unchanged since June 2026. This does not measure productivity.
UK · Private-sector businesses covered by BICS; selected industries and public sector excluded · 9,933 responses from 38,592 sampled businesses; response rate 25.7%.
Voluntary fortnightly survey; weighted estimates based on business self-reports. Fieldwork: 21 September–4 October 2026. AI comparison: September 2023–September 2026. Official statistics in development.
Source published: 2026-10-08 · Data period: 2026-09-21 — 2026-10-04 · Observed findingUK Business Data Survey 2026 — official business survey ↗
41% of businesses handling digitised data used AI. Among AI users, 21% reported tools working within existing business software. Different populations; these rates cannot measure growth against ONS.
UK · Covered business sectors; AI questions apply to businesses handling digitised data. · 4,450 businesses overall. AI-use question: 4,090 handling digitised data; integration question: 1,870 AI users.
Ipsos; telephone/online survey weighted by business size and sector. Fieldwork: October 2025–January 2026; exact days not stated.
Source published: 2026-06-18 · Data period: 2025-10 — 2026-01 · Observed findingUncertainties: The surveys rely on business self-reports and cover different populations, sectors and periods. ONS excludes public bodies and selected industries. UKBDS’s 41% refers to businesses handling digitised data; 21% refers to AI users. Integration is not a productivity measure. The conflicting UKBDS policy figures are omitted. Fieldwork dates remain at month precision because exact days are not stated. The ONS 22 October bulletin has no new AI findings; the 8 October AI figures are used here.
Türkiye interpretation (inference): Interpretation for Turkey: a similar small trial could be considered. These sources do not measure AI use or benefits in Turkey.
Last evidence check: 27/10/2026