A recent report from Google highlights significant gaps in AI adoption among UK workers, indicating that the country could potentially double its use of artificial intelligence.

The report, based on Google's AI Works pilot program in collaboration with consultancy Public First, reveals that before training, only 17% of women over 55 used AI weekly, but this figure surged to 56% three months later.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle affirmed the government's commitment to equipping workers with the necessary skills for AI-related jobs as part of the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of AI in the workplace were prevalent, with many employees expressing a desire for 'permission to prompt' before utilizing the technology.

In response to these findings, Google is enhancing its Digital Garage program by launching an 'AI Prompting Essentials' webinar and expanding partnerships with educational institutions and businesses to promote AI training.

The pilot program, initiated in the UK in 2024, involved collaboration with unions, small businesses, and educators to test various training methods.

Google's initiatives aim to enhance AI adoption among small firms in the UK, with plans to extend similar pilots to other countries, including Germany.

The slow uptake of AI is attributed to a lack of training opportunities and company guidance, factors the government aims to address through its AI Opportunities Action Plan.

The report calls for a collective effort to ensure all businesses adopt AI, urging the public sector to lead in AI training and advocating for a lifelong learning culture supported by an accreditation system for short AI upskilling courses.

Google launched the 'AI Works' initiative to explore effective methods for accelerating AI adoption and upskilling, building on a decade of digital skills training that has reached over 1 million individuals in the UK.

A survey revealed that 70% of workers use AI tools independently, with only 22% encouraged by their employers, a decrease from 28% six months prior.

The report also highlights that women over 55 are four times less likely to use AI compared to men under 35, underscoring the need for targeted training and resources.