House 337 - UK Shows Dramatic AI Adoption Growth, But A Gulf in Workplace Support
The United Kingdom has made a dramatic advance in AI adoption, with usage jumping 12 percentage points to reach 36%, the largest increase of any major market surveyed, according to a major new report from Savanta for House 337.
However, this growth is being undermined by a critical workplace divide: while AI tools become essential to work, 62% of employees say their companies expect them to learn AI independently, with little formal training or support.
House 337’s findings, conducted by Savanta, of over 6,000 people across four key markets, show that 87% have now heard of Generative AI, with 36% reporting they have knowingly used it. A 7% increase year-over-year. The UK's 12-point jump in usage (from 24% to 36%) represents the sharpest growth among markets surveyed, signaling that last year's concerns about the UK "getting left behind" may be reversing.
The research does reveal a troubling gap between AI's growing workplace importance and employer support. While 76% of AI-using employees report productivity improvements, most are left to navigate AI adoption on their own. Only a minority receive structured training at 2/3 don’t have an AI policy in place, putting the burden on individuals to upskill themselves.
The emotional landscape around AI has also shifted. Job security concerns have risen 4% and now outweigh privacy fears, with 62% agreeing that "technology will take jobs from humans." At the same time, 55% feel worried about AI's long-term future, even as 61% acknowledge it can speed up boring tasks.
"The acceleration in UK adoption is encouraging, but it masks a deeper problem," said James Poulter, Head of AI and Innovation, House 337. "People are using AI more, but they're doing it in a vacuum. When 62% of workers say their company expects them to figure out AI on their own, we're creating a system where only the most proactive succeed while others get left behind. AI literacy can't be a DIY project; not when it's becoming essential to work."
James Poulter, Head of AI and Innovation, House 337 and upcoming author of AI at Work (Bloomsbury - 2026): “The revolution of AI sparked three years ago by the arrival of ChatGPT has seen the fastest adoption of any type of consumer technology we've ever experienced. But keeping up with that explosion is going to require much greater work from individuals, employers, companies, and governments if we're going to ensure that it can be safely adopted to help accelerate the growth in the economy we want to see while also ensuring that people still have a role to play in that economy."
Shaun Austin, Head of Media and Technology, Savanta added: "This year's data tells a story of uneven progress. Awareness is nearly universal at 87%, but the percentage of those who say they are definitely using sits at just 36% - that's a massive gap. What's changed since 2024 is that the UK is no longer lagging in adoption, but we're seeing new challenges emerge around trust, workplace readiness, and the emotional response to AI. The data shows people are curious but conflicted: they see the benefits, but they're worried about job security and don't trust AI to make decisions. Brands and employers who acknowledge this emotional reality, rather than just pushing adoption, will be the ones who succeed."
Key findings from the 2025 AI Impact Report:
- UK usage surges: UK AI usage jumped 12% (from 24% to 36%), the highest increase of all markets surveyed
- The awareness-usage gap: 87% have heard of Generative AI, but only 36% have knowingly used it, with 18% still saying they don't understand it even after being given a definition
- Workplace training gap: 62% of workers say their employer expects them to learn AI independently, with formal upskilling remaining rare
- Job security overtakes privacy: Concerns about AI replacing human roles have risen 4% and now exceed fears about data misuse
- ChatGPT dominance grows: Awareness of ChatGPT jumped 14% to 72%, while Google Gemini awareness rose 21% to 50%
- Personal use leads: 48% use AI only for personal tasks, while just 8% use it exclusively for work
- Trust remains fragile: 63% agree "AI should not be relied upon to make decisions" and 63% say "AI is only as good as the algorithm behind it"
More broadly, the research reveals that age remains the sharpest divide in AI readiness, with younger adults (18-34) leading in usage, comfort, and experimentation, while older adults (55+) show lower confidence and higher caution.
The AI Impact Report 2025 will be launched at a virtual event on 10 December 2025 from 3-4pm.
Register for the launch event here
Access the full report: https://www.house337.com/events-and-insights/our-2025-ai-impact-report
