2025 Tech Perceptions Survey Report
How AI is reshaping the way professionals work and win
2025 Technology Perceptions Survey Report
How AI is reshaping the way professionals work and win
Introduction
What a difference a year makes. When we released the first Tech Perceptions Survey Report in 2024, just 48% of professionals reported using AI for work. Our newest survey results reveal that AI usage is surging, with 72% of professionals now using AI on the job.
AI is becoming a powerful performance driver, helping professionals and their firms increase productivity, lower costs, and deliver better client experiences. But growth hasn’t come without challenges: 50% of professionals are using unauthorized AI tools, creating serious security risks.
The root issue? Most firms aren’t providing the right technology — over two-thirds of professionals note they could do a better job if they had better tech.
The upside of getting tech right is powerful. 90% of professionals who feel well equipped are highly satisfied with their firms — compared to just 65% at firms where tech falls short. And access to AI influences where over half of Gen Z and millennials choose to work.
This report explores our latest survey findings and what they mean for the future of work in professional and financial services.
“The message is clear – employees want to use AI. Leadership’s job is to make it compliant, secure, and accessible.”
Dr. Robin Tech
Vice President, AI and Data
Intapp
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Who we surveyed
820 professionals
Survey fielding was managed by Illuminas via an online survey targeting U.S. and U.K. knowledge workers (fee earners) between November 5 – 22, 2024.
The margin of error for results is +/- 3.2 in total and +/- 4.6% by country at the 95% confidence level. Respondents were split evenly between the U.S. and U.K
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The rise — and risks — of AI in the workplace
Highlights
AI usage among professionals has grown substantially, with 72% using AI at work versus 48% in 2024.
Barriers to AI adoption are declining, with 12% fewer professionals citing security and privacy requirements as a blocker.
50% of professionals are exposing their firms to increased information security risks by using unauthorized AI tools.
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Record numbers of professionals are using AI at work
Base size: 802 (excluding don’t know), Q20: Where is your firm in the process of adopting AI technologies?
Base size: 820 in 2025 | 805 in 2024, Q10: Which of the following best describes your usage of AI at your firm? (Additional answer options for Q10 in the 2025 survey may have impacted results.)
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Professionals are turning to AI for help with daily tasks
How professionals use — and want to use — AI at their firms
Base size: 721-790 (data filtered to professionals who do these tasks)
Q10: Which of the following best describes your usage of AI at your firm?
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Barriers to AI adoption are decreasing…
Which of the following have kept your firm from adopting AI technologies?
2025 base size: 350 who aren’t currently using AI. Q12: Which of the following have kept your firm from adopting AI technologies?
2024 base size: 805 all respondents. Q12: Which of the following keeps your firm from adopting new technologies like AI?
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…but AI adoption varies widely by industry…
Professionals using AI at work
Audiencebasesizes:Accounting =233, Consulting = 209, Finance =208, Legal=170
Q10: WhichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourusageofAI at your firm?
Q20:Where isyour firm in the process ofadopting AItechnologies?
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… and when firms don’t provide the tools
professionals want or need, they use their own
of professionals have used unauthorized AI tools
Have you used an AI tool that wasn’t provided or recommended by your firm?
“Firms can lose control over data security when professionals funnel highly sensitive information into unauthorized AI tools — an attack vector that will only get bigger.”
Dr. Robin Tech
Vice President, AI and Data
Intapp
Basesize:820total, Q26: Haveyouever usedan AI toolforworkthatwasnotprovidedorrecommendedby your firm?
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How AI is rapidly accelerating business
Highlights
50% or more of professionals report their firms are highly successful at using AI to increase productivity, innovation, and creativity.
Many professionals are reallocating time saved with AI to focus on key priorities including higher-level client work (42%) and strategic planning (33%).
82% of professionals say that the quality
of AI-generated work
is at least as good as their own.
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A rising number of professionals expect AI to have a big impact …
Base size: 820, Q13: Please evaluate the following statements about the impact of AI over the next two years.
*Option added in 2025—no trend available.
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… with many professionals saying that AI is already meeting expectations today
Base size: 590 (professionals using AI), Q34: How successful do you believe your firm currently is in using AI to achieve these outcomes?
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AI is also helping professionals work faster and smarter
62%
of professionals believe AI has been highly useful in the workplace
“Using AI allows for faster decision-making and higher accuracy in deliverables.”
Finance professional, U.K.
Gen X
How is AI helping you in your career?
Base size: 590 (professionals using AI)
Q27: How useful has AI been in the workplace?
Q29: In which of the following ways, if any, has AI helped you in your career?
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Time saved with AI means more time for strategic work
“Using AI, I can obtain more industry information, which helps me communicate with my clients.”
Finance professional, U.S.
Millennial
Weekly time savings with AI
How professionals reallocate time saved
Base size: 583 (professionals using AI, excluding unsure), Q24: In a typical work week, how much time do you estimate you are saving by using AI?
Base size: 578 (professionals saving time with AI), Q25: How have you used the time saved by using AI?
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The vast majority of professionals feel AI-generated work is as good as — or better than — their own
say the quality of AI-generated work is at least as good as their own
How professionals rate the quality of AI-generated work
“The quality of the results provided with the assistance of artificial intelligence is quite good, saving time and effort.”
Finance professional, U.S.
Gen X
Base size: 590 (professionalsusingAI), Q22: Forthe taskswhereyouuseAI, howwould you rate the quality ofwork producedbyAIcomparedtoyour own?
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Most professionals are comfortable telling clients they’re using AI
Do your clients know your firm uses AI?
How comfortable are you telling clients AI was used to create a key deliverable?
“AI can enhance efficiency and insights, but I want to ensure clients understand it was used thoughtfully and checked for accuracy, quality, and reliability.”
Consultant, U.S.
Millennial
Base size: 590 (professionals using AI)
Q31: To the best of your knowledge, do your know that your firm is using AI?
Q32: How comfortable would you feel telling your that you used AI to create an important deliverable?
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Why tech-forward firms will come out ahead
Highlights
Only 32% of professionals feel they have the tech needed to do their jobs effectively.
90% of professionals at tech-forward firms are highly satfisfied with their firms versus 65% of professionals at firms that are not tech-forward
57% of Gen Z and 52% of milleninial respondents say that access to AI tools will influence where they choose to work in the future.
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Just one-third of professionals feel they have the tech needed to do their jobs effectively
“It’s not about having more technology —it’s about having the right technology to
drive success and attract top talent
Dr. Robin Tech
Vice President, AI and Data
Intapp
Total base size: 820, Q6b: How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: My firm provides technology that enables me to do my job effectively?
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Professionals at tech-forward firms are significantly more satisfied and likely to stay
Total base size: 820; Optimal tech enablement: 261, Basic tech enablement: 559
Q1: Overall, how satisfied are you with your firm?
Q2: How likely are you to continue working at the firm in the next two years?
Q3: How likely are you to recommend your firm to peers and colleagues as a place to work?
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Optimal tech powers professional — and firm — success
Base size: 820, Q4: How successful do you feel in achieving the following goals in your position at your firm?
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Optimal tech also powers career success
Base size: 820, Q4: How successful do you feel in achieving the following goals in your position at your firm?
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AI is becoming non-negotiable for future firm leaders
Professionals using AI at work
Professionals who say access to AI will influence where they choose to work
“The next generation of leaders are AI natives — and they expect firms to provide modern tech that helps them move faster, think bigger, and focus on what really matters.”
Dr. Robin Tech
Vice President, AI and data
Intapp
Base size: 590 (professionals using AI)
Q31: To the best of your knowledge, do your know that your firm is using AI?
Q32: How comfortable would you feel telling your that you used AI to create an important deliverable?
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