Your employees may already be using AI at work. Some are paying for it themselves.
A new Deloitte survey of 25,000 UK workers found that British employees spend a collective $1.3 billion a year on generative AI for their jobs, and they don't expense any of it. One in six workplace AI users pays for at least one tool out of pocket.
Adoption is already mainstream. In the UK, 63 percent of working adults use generative AI for work. Nearly half rely on free tools, and 34 percent use ones their employer provides. For comparison, a Gallup survey of US workers found 52 percent use AI in some capacity, but only 15 percent use it daily. (The methods differ, so treat the comparison as a rough guide.)
The use is shallow. Most workers aren't running autonomous agents. They're drafting emails and using AI as a stand-in for search. Deloitte's Paul Lee said the technology's role remains "relatively basic," focused on finding information and drafting content rather than supporting complex work.
The real story is the support gap. Workers are adopting AI despite limited training and patchy guidance, and sometimes without their employer's knowledge.
What this means for your career:
- Learn it on purpose. Your peers are already using AI, so casual use won't set you apart. Depth will.
- Go beyond email drafts. The gap between basic use and skilled use is where the opportunity sits.
- Ask your employer about AI policy. If it's unclear, get clarity before you use your own tools on company work.
- Don't pay blindly. Check what your workplace already offers before spending your own money.
Everyone is using AI. Few are using it well, and that's the edge you can build.