01 · Adoption
Who is using AI
AI use is climbing on every measure. Among UK businesses with 10 or more employees, adoption has gone from roughly a tenth in 2023 to over a third by June 2026, and just over half of adults say they have used an AI tool.
Data & methodology
This track asks a simple question: how many UK firms and people actually use AI, and how do people feel about it.
Where the numbers come from
Firms. The ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey, a regular survey of UK businesses. The headline line counts firms with 10 or more employees that say they currently use AI — the basis ONS now leads with, running to June 2026. A faint line shows the older all-business cut (including firms under 10 staff), which ONS stopped featuring after 2025; a third line, published by DSIT on a consistent definition, ran to Dec 2025.
People. Ofcom's Online Nation and Adults' Media Use surveys, for whether adults have used a generative-AI tool. Sentiment comes from the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which asks whether people think AI will benefit them.
Other countries. Firm adoption across countries is from Yotzov and co-authors (2026); the UK figure there draws on the Bank of England's Decision Maker Panel.
How to read it
The firm measures use different definitions and different base populations, so compare each line with its own past rather than reading across the lines. Survey questions also vary, which is why the levels differ.