New and emerging technology including AI assistants, drone delivery services, autonomous vehicles and digital healthcare could free up almost two hours of extra free time every day, according to a new report, The Future of Free Time, by Lloyds Banking Group.
A poll of UK adults found that nearly half (45%) felt that less than a fifth of their time outside work was really free.
A large majority (86%) felt that getting more free time is important, with reasons given including improved mental health (cited by 31%) and improved physical health (28%).
Some of the things eating into that precious free time included food prep and clearing up (which took up an average of 38 minutes per day), household chores (37 minutes) and driving (21 minutes).
The survey found that three-fifths (60%) of respondents are open to adopting new tools to save time, with just over half (53%) feeling confident about allowing technology to take over household chores.
For high earners bringing in over £100,000, these figures rise to 97% and 93% respectively.
Wealthier individuals also reported that more free time would reduce stress levels (45%) and help them sleep better (35%).
Tech could ‘give back’ 110 minutes of free time per day
According to the report, new and emerging technology could free up an average of 110 minutes of genuine free time per day in the near future.
“Although some tasks will only save us a few minutes a day, these minutes easily add up to hours,” the bank suggested.
These savings could include:
- 37 minutes per day on household chores through improved automation and more effective devices.
- 31 minutes on online research and admin, with AI tools such as next-generation personal assistants and generative agents.
- 21 minutes in driverless vehicles, with time spent as a passenger used for work or other activities.
- 18 minutes on shopping and banking, with AI agents completing tasks and drone deliveries offering precise time windows.
- Three minutes on automated healthcare appointments and remote consultations.
The report cited new and emerging technologies such as fully autonomous AI agents that could soon be able to make independent decisions.
AI agents will also be able to support diagnostics, logistics and administrative tasks within the healthcare sector.
Drones can enable quicker and more efficient deliveries, while autonomous vehicles are getting closer to mainstream reality.
Today’s news was brought to you by TD SYNNEX – the UK’s number one solutions distributor.
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