A new report reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is driving job growth for a fifth of UK businesses, while also boosting productivity and revenue. However, the study highlights a growing divide between companies embracing AI and those lagging behind, particularly older firms and businesses outside London.
Widespread AI adoption across UK businesses
The Intuit 2026 AI Impact Report, which analysed data from 5.3 million businesses worldwide and surveyed over 34,000 firms across the UK, Canada, US, and Australia, found that 70% of UK businesses now use AI in some capacity. Among these, 77% reported increased productivity, and 43% saw revenue growth. Additionally, 27% said AI shortened their workdays, and 28% experienced cost reductions.
Regional disparities in AI usage
The report indicates a significant gap in AI adoption across the UK. London businesses are 13.2 percentage points more likely to use AI extensively. In contrast, South East businesses are 13.8 percentage points more likely to never use AI, while South West firms are 14.9 percentage points less likely to report extensive AI use. Businesses in Wales also tend to use AI in a limited or testing capacity.
AI driving job creation
Despite concerns about AI replacing jobs, 20% of businesses using AI reported making more hires due to the technology. Andrew Price, CEO and co-founder of Synapx, noted: “AI allows a small team to operate with the maturity, governance, and delivery capability of a much larger organisation. It accelerates business maturity, and maturity is what unlocks sustainable growth, not just short-term efficiency.”
Expert insights on AI integration
Ciarán Quilty from Intuit commented: “UK businesses aren’t short of tools, they’re short of time and clarity. We’re seeing a shift from reactive software to proactive AI embedded into business systems that actually do work on behalf of the customer. By embedding AI directly into key workflows, businesses spend less time managing admin and more time making confident decisions about how they grow. Usage of this kind is growing, and ambitious businesses are beginning to reap the benefits.”
The report underscores that while AI offers substantial benefits, businesses that fail to adopt it risk falling behind, especially those outside London and older firms.
