The UK risks losing out on a £200 billion economic boost due to the slow uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, according to Google.
The tech company has raised concerns over a significant gap in AI adoption that could hinder productivity growth and long-term economic performance.
New research commissioned by Google reveals that 66% of UK workers have never used generative AI in their roles. Adoption rates are particularly low among women aged over 55 and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Despite the transformative potential of AI, the company warns that only half of the projected £400 billion productivity gain could be realised by the end of the decade if current trends continue.
Debbie Weinstein, Google’s President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, stressed the importance of closing this adoption gap.
She said addressing the disparity is essential to unlocking both economic and practical benefits, including time-saving efficiencies for workers.
The AI Works report highlights a historical pattern in the UK of falling behind other countries in embracing emerging technologies.
Google’s findings suggest that the UK’s tendency to innovate without widespread implementation has repeatedly limited its economic progress.
A key issue identified in the report is the lack of formal guidance and accredited short courses that would help workers use AI effectively. The study, carried out by research group Public First, surveyed more than 3,100 people.
It found that 70% of workers who use AI tools had done so independently, without direction from their employers. Only 22% said they had been encouraged to use AI at work, a decrease from 28% six months earlier.
Google is urging the UK Government to include AI adoption in its industrial strategy, particularly by supporting key sectors and industries.
The company also recommends that Skills England, the government’s new skills agency, introduce an accreditation framework for short, high-quality AI training courses.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed the government’s intention to support the workforce in developing the skills required to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
Through the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the government will work with Skills England and industry leaders to identify skill gaps and ensure they are addressed effectively.
To help drive AI use across the country, Google is piloting programmes with small businesses, using behavioural science to improve engagement. The company is also collaborating with school academies and trade unions, and plans to expand its AI Works initiative to other countries, including Germany.
With urgent action and coordinated support, Google believes the UK can still realise the full potential of AI and avoid falling behind in the global race for technological innovation.
