As the pace of modern life accelerates, a growing number of high-income individuals in the UK are looking to emerging technology to claw back precious hours in their day. According to new research commissioned by Lloyds Banking Group, well-paid workers are increasingly excited about adopting time-saving tools like artificial intelligence (AI) assistants, robotic vacuum cleaners, autonomous vehicles, and drone delivery systems.
The study, conducted by OnePoll and featured in Lloyds’ newly released The Future of Free Time report, surveyed 1,000 UK adults. It found that the demand for efficiency is highest among top earners, particularly those with salaries exceeding £100,000 per year. These respondents expressed a clear desire to integrate smart tech into their daily routines, with 99% saying more free time is a priority.
A Growing Appetite for Time-Saving Tech
The report highlights that smart technology, particularly AI-based tools, could soon save users an average of 110 minutes each day. That’s nearly two hours reclaimed for personal or family use. Among the tools seen as most promising are AI personal assistants to handle life admin, autonomous drones for swift deliveries, and driverless cars to shorten commutes.
“Although some tasks will only save us a few minutes a day, these minutes easily add up to hours,” the Lloyds report noted.
Across all income brackets, the value of free time remains a common theme. Eighty-six percent of respondents said they consider free time important, yet nearly one in four (23%) felt they had less than 10% of their non-working hours truly free.
High Earners Willing to Sacrifice for Freedom
For affluent professionals, the drive to regain control of their time is particularly intense. A third of respondents earning over £100,000 annually said they would give up their phone for an extra hour of free time each day, while 29% were willing to forgo coffee.
The appeal of time-saving tech appears directly tied to this pursuit of efficiency. The report found that 97% of high earners are likely to adopt new technology if it helps them reclaim time from mundane tasks.
“Our research shows people are becoming more comfortable with using technology to handle daily tasks,” said Adam Rainey, director of mass affluent at Lloyds. “Sixty percent of people are open to adopting new tools to save time, and 53% feel confident about letting tech take over routine chores.”
Where the Minutes Add Up
The Lloyds report outlines five key areas where tech could make a significant difference:
- Household Chores: Automation using smart vacuums and similar devices could save up to 37 minutes daily.
- Admin and Research: AI assistants might handle errands and information-gathering, saving 31 minutes.
- Banking and Shopping: Streamlined digital services could return 18 minutes per day.
- Transportation: Driverless vehicles could repurpose 21 minutes of commuting time.
- Healthcare: Faster, at-home diagnostic tools could save around three minutes per day.
When combined, these small efficiencies amount to more than an hour and a half of potential daily freedom time that could be used for hobbies, exercise, family, or rest.
Technology and the Future of Leisure
Lloyds’ findings reflect a broader cultural shift: as technology becomes more capable and accessible, people, especially those juggling demanding careers, are eager to offload the small but persistent responsibilities that chip away at their free time.
From cleaning floors to scheduling appointments, the study suggests a growing readiness to let automation do the heavy lifting. And while not everyone may be ready to let go of their smartphone or daily caffeine, the promise of an extra hour or two each day is proving to be a compelling trade-off.
As Lloyds puts it, “Investing in the right technology could give us an extra 110 minutes every day.” For those leading increasingly busy lives, that investment might soon feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
