British employees could save over 120 hours per year by using artificial intelligence (AI) for administrative tasks, according to a new report from Google. The tech giant suggests that with just a few hours of AI training and official permission to use tools like its Gemini AI chatbot, workers across the UK could dramatically boost productivity—potentially adding £400 billion ($533 billion) in economic growth.

Released on Friday, May 2, the AI Works report highlights findings from pilot programs carried out in small businesses, education groups, and labor unions. These programs showed that basic AI adoption can cut down on repetitive tasks, freeing up significant time for higher-value work.

Yet, AI adoption remains especially low among older workers and women from less privileged backgrounds. According to data from Public First, which partnered with Google on the project, two-thirds of UK employees had never used generative AI at work, with particularly low engagement among women aged 55 and above—only 17% used AI weekly and just 9% daily before training.

Debbie Weinstein, President of Google EMEA, said many workers hesitated due to uncertainty:

“People needed permission to prompt. They were unsure if using AI at work was acceptable. Once they received that assurance and some basic training, their confidence—and usage—doubled.”

Indeed, after just a few hours of AI training, participants were twice as likely to use the technology regularly and continued doing so for months after the sessions. Three months later, 56% of older women in the cohort were using AI weekly, and 29% had made it a part of their daily workflow.

Google emphasizes that simple, scalable interventions—like basic training and clear workplace policies—can help close the AI adoption gap and empower more UK workers to benefit from emerging technologies.

The report concludes that upskilling employees in AI could be a key driver of national productivity and economic transformation.