How do UK businesses use AI?

UK businesses are using AI most for analytics and reporting, customer support and chatbots, and content creation and marketing, each used by over 40% of businesses today. Around 39% of UK businesses are already using AI in some way, a further 31% are considering it, and most are adopting it selectively rather than all at once, using it to support their teams rather than replace them.

That's the short version. Here's the detail behind it.

Key takeaways

• 39% of UK businesses currently use AI, 31% are considering it
• Analytics, customer support and content are the leading use cases
• Most businesses adopt AI selectively rather than fully, and use it to support people rather than replace them
• Telephone answering has lower current adoption (34%) but strong intent to adopt (33% considering), suggesting fast growth ahead
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The top ways UK businesses are using AI

Based on Moneypenny's survey of 750 UK decision-makers, these are the business functions where AI is most widely used today:

Where AI is most used today:

• Analytics & reporting - 46%
• Customer support & chatbots -45%
• Content creation & marketing - 44%
• Productivity & automation - 42%
• Technical & cybersecurity - 41%
• Sales & lead generation - 39%
• Recruitment & HR - 37%
• Telephone answering - 34%

Telephone answering sits a little lower than the rest, but with another 33% of businesses considering it, this is one of the areas likely to see the fastest growth over the next year, particularly in sectors that handle high call volumes, such as property and professional services.

How far along are UK businesses with AI adoption?

Most businesses aren't going all-in on AI, and they aren't ignoring it either. They're somewhere in the middle, testing where it helps most:

• 28% are fully embracing AI across the organisation
• 40% are selectively adopting it for specific, high-value tasks
• 20% are using it minimally so far
• 12% have no plans to adopt it

Company size plays a part too. Businesses with 50 to 99 employees lead the way, with only 3% saying they have no plans to adopt AI, while smaller and sole-trader businesses are moving more cautiously.

Do UK businesses use AI to replace people or support them?

Overwhelmingly, to support them.

The most widely adopted use cases, such as analytics, content support and customer service triage, are ones where AI handles volume and routine tasks, while people remain responsible for judgement, complexity and anything sensitive. That blended approach, AI plus real people, is what Moneypenny sees working best across the businesses it supports.

See this in practice in our AI Receptionist: The Complete Guide for UK Businesses, which covers how AI and human receptionists split call handling in this same blended way.  

Want the full picture?

This is a summary. For the complete breakdown, including AI adoption by sector, by UK region, and what's likely to change next, read the full report.

Related reading: the AI experience gap looks at where businesses and customers disagree on how well AI is actually performing.

Source: Moneypenny, The State of AI Adoption in UK Businesses, 750 UK decision-makers, April to May 2025

Frequently asked questions

• What percentage of UK businesses use AI?

39% of UK businesses are currently using AI in some way, with a further 31% considering it, putting total interest at close to 70%.

• What is AI most commonly used for in UK businesses?

Analytics and reporting, customer support and chatbots, and content creation and marketing are the most common uses today, each used by more than 40% of UK businesses.

• Are small UK businesses using AI as much as larger ones?

Not yet. Larger businesses, particularly those with 50 to 99 employees, are adopting AI fastest. Sole traders and very small businesses are moving more cautiously, often due to budget, time or confidence.