Nearly six in ten UK adults now use generative AI, survey finds
UK generative AI use is highest in London and among adults with university degrees.
Nearly six in ten UK adults used generative AI during the previous three months, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) first Public Engagement Survey.
The survey found that 59% of adults had used generative AI, while 97% reported at least some awareness of AI. Tools capable of producing human-like text or speech were used by 56% of respondents, while 54% had used AI-powered digital assistants.
Adoption was highest among adults aged 16 to 44 before declining steadily with age, reaching just 8% among people aged 85 and over. Use also increased with education levels, from 19% among adults without formal qualifications to 75% among degree holders. Regionally, London recorded the highest adoption rate at 69%, compared with 51% in North East England.
Among online respondents using the technology, 83% reported personal use, 54% used it for work, and 27% for education or study. Saving time was the main motivation, followed by generating ideas and summarising information. Although easier access to information or advice was seen as AI’s biggest benefit, 74% of adults remained concerned that AI-generated information could be inaccurate.
The findings also point to broad public support for regulation. At least two-thirds of respondents backed legislation to improve AI safety, increase transparency, reduce bias and limit job displacement.
The survey was conducted between November 2025 and March 2026 and included 30,698 respondents, providing one of the broadest official snapshots of generative AI use across the UK.
Why does it matter?
The survey suggests that generative AI has moved rapidly into the mainstream, making questions of governance, digital skills and public trust increasingly important. As adoption grows across everyday life and work, ensuring people can use AI safely and effectively may become as important as expanding access to the technology itself.
The findings also highlight persistent inequalities in adoption across age, education and geography. Combined with strong public support for AI regulation, they suggest that future policy will need to address both access to AI and confidence in how it is developed and used.
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