New research finds a seismic generational gap when it comes to embracing AI in the UK. According to the Dye & Durham UK Pulse Report for Q4 2023, younger generations are significantly more likely to have experimented with generative AI at home. This suggests it’s just a matter of time before Gen Z drives greater use of AI in the workplace – fundamentally changing the nature of work in the UK for good.
The Dye & Durham UK Pulse Report, conducted by YouGov, samples 2,115 UK adults and explores trends in technology, the economy and the property market. The results show a 48% gap in AI experimentation between the youngest and oldest generations1, raising questions about how this will shape workplaces of the future.
According to the report, 62% of UK adults aged 18-24 have used generative AI at some level, whereas 86% of people 55 and over have never used it in their personal lives. In contrast, 39% of those surveyed between the ages of 35-44 have experimented with AI in some capacity.
The Q4 UK Pulse Report found that 55% of 18-24-year-olds have never used AI for professional reasons, and only 11% are using AI tools professionally every week. This is in stark contrast to the role technology broadly plays in the lives of today’s workers – 40% of survey respondents said that technology is critical to their profession.
“These findings are consistent with what we’re hearing when we talk with our customers in the legal sector. They see the impact a desire for greater use of technological solutions is having on their recruitment process and in the retention of staff. As firms aim to attract and retain the future generation of lawyers, they must adopt the technologies this class of professionals are familiar with,” says David Nash, Dye & Durham’s Chief Product Officer.
Looking at the implication for the future of the legal sector, Mr. Nash said: “There is no doubt that increasing tech and AI adoption will transform the way the legal sector works, and companies need to be braced for that change.”
About the survey
The UK Pulse Report explores trends in technology, the economy and the property market. The report generates new data to provide insight into current trends and help professionals in the legal industry plan for the months and years ahead. The UK report is released quarterly and is complimented by similar reports in Canada, Australia and Ireland.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2115 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th – 20th December 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
The full report can be found here.
About Dye & Durham Limited
Dye & Durham Limited provides premier practice management solutions empowering legal professionals every day, delivers vital data insights to support critical corporate transactions and enables the essential payments infrastructure trusted by government and financial institutions. The company has operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and South Africa. Additional information can be found at www.dyedurham.com.
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Derek Holota
Director, Global Brand and Communications
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