Does AI make work more productive? What the record shows
Several official studies have measured time saved and productivity reported by people using AI at work. Most rely on what users and businesses say themselves, and each source's own note on that is shown.
This page quotes 7 findings from three official records by DSIT and DWP, published between June 2025 and January 2026. The most recent comes from DWP in January 2026 and covers job satisfaction. Four of them carry the source's own note on how the figures were gathered, shown under the quote.
Business productivity
56%
of AI-using businesses saw staff productivity rise (DSIT) · see the record
Time saved at work
26 min
a day saved by Copilot users in the cross-government trial (self-reported) · see the record
Business productivity
75%
of AI-using businesses reported improved workforce productivity (DSIT) · see the record
Time saved at work
19 min
a day saved on average by DWP Copilot users (DWP evaluation) · see the record
Quality of work
73%
of DWP Copilot users reported better work outputs (DWP evaluation) · see the record
Business productivity
DSIT reports that 56% of UK businesses using AI said their employees' overall productivity had increased since adopting it.
“Over half of businesses using AI (56%) reported an increase in their employees’ overall productivity since adopting AI.”
The source notes: DSIT says these figures are self-reported by businesses and should be viewed as estimates.
DSIT reports that among businesses currently using AI, 75% reported improved productivity of the workforce and 57% had developed new or improved processes or operations.
“Three quarters (75%) reported improved productivity of the workforce and over half (57%) had developed new or improved processes or operations.”
The source notes: DSIT says these figures are self-reported by businesses and should be viewed as estimates.
The government reports that in a trial involving more than 20,000 civil servants, generative AI tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot saved users an average of 26 minutes a day.
“saved users an average of 26 minutes per day. That adds to nearly 2 weeks of time saved per year per person”
The source notes: The release says the figures are derived from self-reported daily time savings provided by participants.
DWP reports that in its Microsoft 365 Copilot trial, 90% of users said Copilot helped them save time, and its analysis estimated an average saving of 19 minutes per day.
“Time savings were recorded. 90% of users indicated that Copilot helped them save time. The Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) analysis estimated an average saving of 19 minutes per day.”
The source notes: The report says minutes are recorded as the lower bound of each time band in its survey (for example, 15 to 30 minutes was recorded as 15 minutes).
DWP reports that its Microsoft 365 Copilot trial ran from October 2024 to March 2025 and involved 3,549 members of staff.
“The trial ran from October 2024 to March 2025, involved 3,549 members of staff, and aimed to assess Copilot’s effectiveness in improving task efficiency, job satisfaction, and quality of work output.”
DWP reports that in its Microsoft 365 Copilot trial, 90% of users said Copilot helped them save time, and its analysis estimated an average saving of 19 minutes per day. The report says minutes are recorded as the lower bound of each time band in its survey (for example, 15 to 30 minutes was recorded as 15 minutes). See the record.
Is AI making UK businesses more productive?
DSIT reports that 56% of UK businesses using AI said their employees' overall productivity had increased since adopting it. DSIT says these figures are self-reported by businesses and should be viewed as estimates. See the record.
What we left out
We only publish results that an official source reports as having happened. We leave out forecasts, targets, estimates of what AI could or may do, announced investment that has not yet happened, and findings from bodies that are not on our official sources list. How we choose what to include.