Over half of Brits plan to teach themselves how to use AI, new research shows
Bosch Tech Compass 2025: AI will be the dominant technology of the next decade.
- Over half of Brits (52%) plan to educate themselves in the field of AI in readiness for this transformative era.
- 61% of Brits say they have never received any AI training in the workplace.
- The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) hits a new high as 66% of Brits think it will be the most influential technology in the UK in the next 10 years.
January 6th Denham, UK – Artificial intelligence (AI) will be the dominant technology of the next decade. As a result, AI skills will become increasingly important in both our professional and personal lives. This is the consensus among the more than 11,000 people surveyed worldwide for this year’s Bosch Tech Compass.
52% of UK respondents in Bosch’s Tech Compass 2025 survey plan to educate themselves on how to use artificial intelligence technology. And 61% say they have never received any training in the workplace on AI, highlighting a gap in education to help Brits prepare for this transformative era.
Bosch’s annual Tech Compass survey will be launched at CES 2025 held in Las Vegas on January 7-10.
Potential of AI hits new high
69% of UK respondents believe that technological progress makes the world a better place, as more Brits embrace cutting edge technologies and recognise the benefits certain technologies can bring to society.
When asked where AI should be deployed across the economy, over half of people surveyed in the UK (51%) believe that AI should be focused on robotics, and 47% said they hope AI can make a positive difference in healthcare.
66% of Brits now say they believe AI will be the most influential technology over the next 10 years, up from 62% in the 2024 report. The survey also shows reservations are decreasing worldwide (down from 38% in 2024 to 34% in 2025), suggesting that AI is not considered just a ‘hype’ and its relevance amongst society is increasing.
Steffen Hoffmann, Managing Director of Bosch UK, comments: “AI has the power to dramatically change our everyday lives. We often see negative reactions from society towards new technologies but the results of this year’s Tech Compass survey show that British people are increasingly embracing this technology and recognising its potential and, most importantly, its benefits.”
4 out of 5 people worldwide plan to educate themselves in the field of AI
Globally, 82% of people plan to educate themselves about AI in the future, with 54% planning to do this through self-study, highlighting a significant gap in AI skills offerings and help from businesses and institutions in helping society prepare for this era.
In the UK, 52% said they plan to educate themselves about AI through self-study, and 61% said they have never received any AI training in the workplace, with 39% of respondents stating they think it’s important that potential employers offer AI training to its people.
Bosch has already trained more than 65,000 associates in AI through its own AI Academy. These training courses are available to all Bosch associates online.
The Tech Compass survey results show a demand from the UK workforce to be supported with specific training around AI, with 50% of Brits stating critical thinking, such as learning to recognise ‘deep fakes’, as the most important skill for individuals to learn in an AI-driven world, closely followed by being able to effectively utilise AI tools (49%).
Steffen Hoffmann added: “At Bosch, we see AI as a tool that everybody should benefit from. We’re using AI in our workplaces and we’re always exploring ways in which we can introduce more AI into our ways of working. The aim is to make processes simpler and more efficient, generative AI can support associates by relieving them of simple, repetitive tasks in their day-to-day work. AI is also used in our manufacturing plants, particularly in checking for defects. When we’re working with AI technologies, we are always making sure the technology is safe, its purpose is clear to see and that it’s beneficial to the end user.”
To aid a better understanding and education in AI, 63% of people surveyed globally support having AI as a stand-alone subject in school, with 48% of people believing that educational institutions in their country are adequately preparing students with AI skills for the future job market.
Steffen Hoffmann added: “One of the notable findings from the Tech Compass report is that just over half of people in the UK believe AI should be a standalone subject in schools. AI is different from other technological revolutions because its impact is taking place very quickly and it’s universal. Adults are increasingly recognising the importance of equipping their children with a solid understanding of AI. It is essential for the government to ensure that AI education is integrated into school curricula and to commit to supporting all students as we transition into the AI era.”
The Tech Compass 2025 report can be read online here.
Contact person for press enquiries:
James Bolton
Bosch UK News & Stories
About the study
For the Bosch Tech Compass, the Gesellschaft für Innovative Marktforschung mbH (GIM) surveyed 11,030 people over the age of 18 in seven countries in October 2024. In the United Kingdom, 1,000 people took part. Just over 1,000 took part in France and Germany. In Brazil,China, India, and the United States, it was just over 2,000 people each. Bosch was not named as a client at any point during the survey.
About the Bosch Group
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 429,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 91.6 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which roughly 48,000 are software engineers.
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861–1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-four percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The remaining shares are held by Robert Bosch GmbH and by a corporation owned by the Bosch family. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust.
Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com.