UK workers are more inclined to use AI alone rather than collaboratively within their teams, according to new research from Asana’s Work Innovation Lab.
The study highlights a significant gap in AI usage comfort levels between individual employees and their managers or broader organisations.
The data reveals that 86 percent of UK workers feel most confident using AI on their own, compared to 78 percent when working with their team, 74 percent with their manager, and 76 percent within their wider organisation. This trend spans various industries, suggesting that many UK employees believe they have a stronger grasp of AI technology than their supervisors or companies.
Risk tolerance surrounding AI also varies by hierarchy. Almost half (49%) of individual workers report being comfortable with the risks associated with AI, while 42 percent say the same about their team. The perception of risk tolerance drops further for managers (41%) and organisations as a whole, with only 35 percent considered comfortable handling AI risks.
Despite many companies introducing AI policies and training programs, a significant portion of workers are self-educating about AI. More than a third (34%) turn to family, friends, and colleagues for AI insights, while 28 percent have taken online courses, and 27 percent even rely on social media to learn about the technology.
Personal experimentation v formal training
Dr. Rebecca Hinds, Head of Asana’s Work Innovation Lab, commented on the findings: “Our research shows that half of UK workers are either proactively or reactively learning about generative AI through personal experimentation, often without formal training. Organisations should identify these self-motivated individuals as internal champions to promote AI adoption and support their colleagues, fostering a ripple effect of AI literacy throughout the company.”
However, Hinds warned that upskilling shouldn’t be solely the responsibility of employees. “Organisations must provide resources, training programs, and support structures to ensure that as AI becomes more integrated into daily workflows, teams are equipped with both the tools and knowledge to use it effectively,” she added.
As AI adoption continues to grow, the report emphasises the need for companies to prioritise AI literacy and development, advocating for a collaborative approach between employees and organisations to unlock the full potential of AI-driven productivity gains.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.