Daily use of artificial intelligence is making workers happier, but it may also be stressing them out. That’s the mixed picture from a new global study that found UK professionals who regularly use AI are more satisfied in their jobs and feel more optimistic about the future.
The report, Work and Wellbeing in the Age of AI by audio tech firm Jabra and Danish think tank The Happiness Research Institute, surveyed over 3,700 knowledge workers across 11 countries, including 360 in the UK.
It reveals that so-called “AI Advocates” – workers who use AI every day – are 31.5% more satisfied with their jobs than those who don’t. They also report higher motivation, stronger goal achievement and are more likely to see opportunities for advancement in their roles.
A Link Between Work and Life Satisfaction
What’s notable is how this boost in workplace wellbeing spills into wider life satisfaction. Employees who enjoy their work are more than six times as likely to feel happy in general, with two-thirds of those reporting high job satisfaction also saying they’re content in their personal lives.
The emotional impact of AI use is attracting serious attention from experts. “It’s easy to talk about AI in terms of productivity. But we need to start talking about it in terms of psychology,” said Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Research Institute.
“How it affects identity, motivation and what people believe their future looks like. The future of work isn’t just technological; it’s emotional,” he said.
Paul Sephton, Jabra’s global head of Brand Communications, said that AI integration must support both human and machine collaboration. “We need to understand how technology and wellbeing intersect,” he said. “As we engineer products, we are innovating for a future where people collaborate not just with other people, but also with AI.”
He added that the “shift means evolving our solutions to support not only human interaction, but also to enable AI systems with the audio and video input they need to be more helpful, more contextual and more emotionally intelligent”.
Why Frequent AI Users Still Feel the Strain
Despite the positive trends, the study found that AI Advocates are 7.7% more likely to experience stress than those who use the technology less often. It could be linked, experts say, to the mental demands of adapting to fast-evolving tools, prompting them correctly and reviewing AI-generated content critically.
This extra effort, however, isn’t necessarily harmful. Workers who feel slightly more stretched also report greater purpose and higher overall happiness. The study suggests that this kind of “good stress” might indicate deeper engagement with work, a feeling of being challenged in meaningful ways, rather than overwhelmed.
A Turning Point for Employers
Despite the rapid advance of AI tools, uptake in the workplace remains patchy. Nearly 40% of skilled professionals surveyed said they had never used AI at work. Among those who do, flexibility and variety appear to be key: AI users interact with tools via typing, voice and other inputs across different work environments.
The research suggests organisations are at a crossroads. With AI now part of the workplace fabric, there is a growing opportunity to make its implementation serve not just efficiency, but employee wellbeing too.
Rather than chasing productivity gains alone, the report urges employers to consider the emotional aspects of AI use: designing systems and environments that promote autonomy, engagement and fulfilment.