AI is becoming part of everyday work, with half of workers surveyed globally using it multiple times a week, according to ADP Research’s most recent issue of People at Work 2026. One in five workers say they use AI almost daily, highlighting how quickly the technology has evolved into a routine workplace tool.
While nearly a third of workers who use AI daily in their work report feeling fully engaged, the research reveals a gap in perceptions toward AI productivity. Daily users are four times more likely to feel less productive than non-users, suggesting that frequent users may feel like they have achieved less as AI becomes more integrated into their daily work. As more checklist work is delegated to AI and workers transition to longer-term, strategic projects, organisations may need to reassess how productivity is tracked at work.
In the UK, nearly half (48 per cent) of workers now use AI at least weekly, while 20 per cent use it almost every day. ADP data shows a strong link between AI usage and engagement at work – with 30 per cent of regular users globally reporting they are fully engaged at work, compared with 14 per cent of non-users.
ADP’s research also suggests a link between increased AI usage and a reduction in work-related stress – with fewer workers reporting a high incidence of negative stress on the job. Just 11 per cent of daily users report feeling overloaded, compared with 23 per cent of workers who have never used AI.
“AI presents a paradox that employers can’t afford to ignore: those same workers benefiting from it are more likely to question their productivity,” says Jeff Phipps, General Manager, ADP UK & Northern Europe. “This tells us AI is changing how people work faster than how we measure output and performance, but workplace use is still in its infancy and business leaders need to think carefully about the adoption of the technology ensuring that the benefits are realised across their organisation. The benefits are real, but our understanding of the human experience is different and pitfalls not yet well understood.”
The use of AI can contribute to a more positive workplace experience. According to the report, 11 per cent of daily AI users report experiencing negative stress, roughly half the rate of non-users (23 per cent).
Frequent AI users also report stronger team dynamics. They are more likely to say they are part of a work team and more likely to report being on the “best team” at work. Daily users are also more likely than less frequent users to feel their jobs are safe from elimination, indicating a strong link between regular AI use and job confidence.
In the UK, the report highlights several key trends shaping AI use at work across demographics and work types:
- Workers in the UK are growing more optimistic about AI, with 17 per cent strongly agreeing AI will positively impacttheir job responsibilities in the coming year – up from 14 per cent last year.
- Knowledge workers are by far the most positive about AI, with 27 per cent strongly agreeing it will benefittheir role, nearly double the European knowledge-worker average (15 per cent) and almost five times higher than UK repetitive task workers (6 per cent).
- Workers aged 27–39 are the UK’s most frequent AI users, with 31 per cent using it almost daily.
- Despite rising optimism, 8 per cent of UK workers still strongly fear their job will be replaced by AI,while 11 per cent say they have no idea how AI will change their job, highlighting to a clear communication and upskilling gap for employers.
