British business leaders expect artificial intelligence to reshape work without cutting jobs, according to new research from workplace software company monday.com.
A survey of directors at large organizations found that 78% of UK respondents do not expect AI to reduce headcount on their teams in the next year. Almost a third (32%) expect it to lead to job growth.
Most directors see AI not as replacing humans, but as a way to change the types of jobs humans do. Many people expect AI systems to take on everyday activities. They expect people to focus more on higher-value jobs and new professional roles.
The survey surveyed 500 directors from organizations with 500 or more employees in the UK and US. The UK findings show that the use of AI is now widespread and integrated into everyday work.
Large amount of daily usage
AI tools are now standard in many UK workplaces. The research found that 95% of UK directors use AI in their work, and 80% use it every day. 7 out of 10 people describe themselves as advanced or expert users.
Directors say the debate is moving from whether AI should be used. They are currently focusing on the quality of their use. These highlight how tools connect, how reliable they are, how teams can build skills, and where automation fits into daily workflows.
More than half (52%) of UK directors say AI is heavily integrated into their company’s mission. Nearly four in 10 (39%) report having a dedicated AI or innovation team leading adoption across their organization.
Leaders also report high levels of trust among staff. The survey found that 82% of UK directors believe their employees are receptive to AI. 70% say their staff is clearly proficient in using AI tools.
Directors have expressed strong confidence in their ability to implement AI strategies. 95% say they can turn their company's AI vision into actionable work. The same proportion of people who call themselves advanced or expert users see this as part of their role in shaping their use of AI.
Focus on profit and productivity
The report links this implementation with financial results. Just over half of UK directors (51%) say AI has brought new revenue or new revenue streams this year.
Directors are now hoping that AI can address the core pressures of their operations. 60% say their priority is to make processes faster and more efficient. 55% want AI to improve the accuracy and quality of their work.
Many leaders are also planning to extend AI to new products. Just over half, 52%, say their ambition to develop a new AI product or service is shaping their adoption plans for the next year.
Ben Barnett, UK&I regional vice president at monday.com, said the survey showed a significant shift in the way British directors thought about AI.
“The UK market is past the experimental stage and leaders are leveraging AI with purpose. What stands out is confidence. Directors feel ready, teams are receptive and capabilities are growing rapidly. But the real change is in mindset. UK directors say the problem is talent It's not about replacing us, it's about how AI can help us do more of what matters. The next step is clear. Expectations are rising and AI will need to meet higher standards to support the ambition and talent that is already driving the UK forward.”
Rise of AI agents
The concept of a “digital workforce” is gaining ground. 79% of UK directors say they are familiar with the idea. 93% say it is important for their organization to use AI agents to automate tasks and workflows.
Leaders expect agents to perform longer sequences of activities rather than single tasks. They see pressure points in data-intensive and coordination roles. 24% cite data analysis and reporting as a valuable use case for AI agents. 20% emphasize project coordination.
Directors expect AI agents to take on predictable layers of work. They expect people to focus more on direction, innovation, and judgment. They also believe that as AI systems mature, teams will have new responsibilities. Staff must be maintained, improved, and trained to ensure agents meet organizational standards.
Integration challenges
The UK director believes that despite high usage rates, there are significant barriers to widespread use of AI. Many people report fragmented tool environments and unresolved security issues.
More than half (56%) of leaders say they use a mix of approved and unapproved AI tools. The same share frequently switches between multiple platforms to complete tasks. Many people find this creates friction and slows down their work.
Directors believe that data privacy and security are the most common barriers. 43% say these concerns are a deterrent to AI adoption. A further 34% doubt the reliability or accuracy of AI output. 27% cited the complexity of having too many tools.
Policies and governance have not kept up with usage. Just 42% of UK directors say their organization has fully established AI guidelines in place. These highlight gaps in rules regarding security and data processing.
Confidence in current tools remains limited. Only a quarter (25%) of directors say they fully trust the AI systems they currently use.
Many organizations are now looking to embed AI within their existing software. 48% of UK directors say their organizations are considering AI to be more closely aligned with their workflows. They see tighter integration as a way to take back accuracy, security, and control over data flows.
Confidence in future profits is high. 90% of UK directors believe that implementing more connected AI tools will significantly improve the performance of their teams over the next 12 months.
