AI is rapidly reshaping how people across the UK work, create and manage everyday tasks, with growing adoption both at home and in the workplace. New research from Adobe Express explores how AI is boosting productivity, saving time and money, and transforming behaviours across industries and daily life.
As AI tools become more accessible and integrated into everyday life, Adobe Express set out to better understand how people across the UK are using this technology at home, at work and everywhere in between.
In 2026, one million AI courses are set to be delivered with a goal of upskilling 10 million workers by 2030. According to the UK government, AI is now being used in frontline services, including healthcare. In fact, one-third of X-rays are now AI-assisted, speeding up diagnoses and improving care. Investment is also being unlocked to fund UK AI companies. But how is it impacting people at home and work?
To uncover the truth behind AI habits, productivity hacks and emerging concerns, Adobe Express surveyed over 1,000 UK adults. The result is a look at how the nation is embracing AI to boost creativity, streamline everyday tasks and save time and money.
Key Findings: AI Adoption Across the UK
• Forty percent of people now use AI both at work and in their personal lives
• Fifteen percent use AI solely for work, and 25% in their personal lives
• Thirty-one percent don’t use AI at all, while 5% want to learn more about it
• Seventy-two percent reported a moderate to significant productivity boost from using AI
• Forty-seven percent say AI saves them up to 4 hours per week at home
• Forty-three percent save up to 4 hours weekly at work, with 12% saving more than 10
From recipe generation to birthday invitations, AI is fast becoming the go-to tool for everything from creativity to admin. More than half of people (51%) say they’re saving money using AI, with a quarter saving up to £50 a month.
AI at Home: Life admin, personal projects and creativity
The survey found that people commonly use AI for:
• Information research (65%)
• Smart communication (29%)
• Entertainment (28%)
• Personal organisation and fitness tracking (41%)
In cities like Southampton, Sheffield and Liverpool, AI is being used to support creative writing, health tracking and online learning. People in Glasgow are saving the most money with AI, while Southampton leads in time saved.
AI at Work: Creativity, analysis and time-saving
At work, AI’s biggest impact is on efficiency. UK professionals are using AI to:
• Design & content creation (70%)
• Research and information gathering (56%)
• Data analysis (46%)
• Project management (40%)
• Communication (22%)
• Software development (18%)
Industries across the UK are adopting AI in varied ways to suit their workflows. In marketing, advertising and PR, 60% of professionals use AI both at work and home, mostly for creative tasks. In business, consulting and management, 75% use it for data analysis, while 100% of legal professionals rely on it for content creation and communication.
In IT, 73% use AI for sourcing information and 47% for software development. Sectors like environment and agriculture and hospitality and events report the biggest time savings, with 50% in each saving over 10 hours a week. However, challenges remain: 100% of those in science and pharmaceuticals avoid AI due to lack of training, and privacy concerns affect up to 100% in marketing.
Why some still aren’t onboard
Despite the clear benefits, adoption barriers remain:
• Thirty-one percent are concerned about data privacy
• Twenty-seven percent struggle with understanding or using AI tools
• Nineteen percent fear becoming too reliant or losing skills
• Fourteen percent are put off by subscription costs
In cities like Belfast, Birmingham and Cardiff, trust and ease-of-use were top concerns. Industries such as science, pharmaceuticals and creative arts cited a lack of education as the key reason they avoid AI.
Adobe Express: Making creativity simple with AI
Adobe Express is committed to breaking down these barriers by offering intuitive, free tools that make creativity accessible to everyone. From AI-powered design templates and an image generator to video creation tools, the platform enables users to bring ideas to life – no advanced tech knowledge needed.
Top tips for using AI more effectively:
Inspire ideas
AI-generated prompts can help inspire ideas, designs and content starters. Generative AI tools can offer fresh ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Think mood boards, presentation and design assets or simply a starting point to create something completely unique. Use AI as a springboard for your existing creative skills or play around with editing tools to learn something new.
Streamline your schedule
AI tools are ideal for streamlining workflows, whether it’s your professional schedule or your personal calendar. Use tools to automate repetitive tasks and forecast timelines or utilise virtual assistants to help schedule reminders and respond to emails.
Be mindful of sources
It’s true that almost one in five (18%) people are sceptical about the reliability of AI outputs, and it’s certainly something to bear in mind. AI tools can deliver a world of information in just a few prompts, but it’s important to remember to check your sources to mitigate spreading false information.
Look out for free tools and trials
Almost one in six people (14%) miss out on the tools and possibilities AI-generated services can provide due to concerns surrounding subscription costs. But there are plenty of creative tools out there that don’t come at a price.
