Microsoft Study Shows Just 11 Minutes Saved Daily Makes AI Essential for Most Workers

Key Takeaways

• Artificial intelligence tools have become essential for many professions.
• A recent survey of 35,000 workers found that the average person saved an hour a day by using AI.
• However, according to Microsoft research, a little over ten minutes is enough to make AI feel indispensable.

For a growing number of workers, chatbots and other AI tools have become essential, helping them get more done in their workday. 

In a survey of early Copilot adopters, Microsoft investigated the technology’s time-saving potential.

The firm discovered that the average worker saved 14 minutes daily, while just 11 minutes saved is all it takes for most people to feel that AI is worthwhile. 

AI’s Expanding Use Case

The reason people use AI is increasingly tied to how it saves time.

“The more I use [AI], the more valuable it becomes,” observed  Microsoft Communications Manager Irena Merkaš.

“AI has become my go-to for brainstorming, analyzing media coverage, and drafting content. What once took hours now takes minutes, saving me time for more strategic tasks.”

Assuming 260 work days in a year, Microsoft’s findings  equate to over 60 hours of time savings for the average worker each year.

AI Efficiency Boost

More recent studies suggest that time savings have increased in the past seven months.

According to The Adecco Group’s 2024 Global Workforce of the Future  survey of 35,000 workers, the mean average saving for workers using AI was an hour a day.

Twenty percent of survey respondents reported saving up to 2 hours daily, while 5% said AI saved them between 3 and 4 hours daily.

Impact on Different Sectors

Time savings can be observed across multiple sectors, according to The Adecco Group’s survey. 

Workers in the energy, utilities, and clean technology sectors reported the highest savings of 75 minutes daily. Even in the aerospace and defense industry, which was found to have the lowest time savings, workers still reported saving an average of 52 minutes a day. 

Meanwhile, tech workers saved an average of 66 minutes daily,  financial services professionals 57 minutes, and those working in manufacturing 62 minutes.