How, Where, and Why Gen AI Is (and Isn’t) Being Used

How, Where, and Why GenAI Is (and Isn’t) Being Used Today

The professional services sector has seen a groundswell of interest in GenAI’s potential. But how much of this belief translates into practical usage, and where do sectors diverge?

A striking 89% of professionals believe GenAI could be applied within their own work—almost universal across law, tax, corporate, and even government. This demonstrates a widespread recognition of AI’s possibilities.

However, only 62% believe GenAI should actually be used day-to-day, and nearly a quarter of professionals are still undecided. Sectors split along familiar lines:

- 59% of legal professionals support daily adoption

- 71% in tax firms are keen supporters, marking a significant increase from last year

- Corporate tax leads, with 75% endorsement

- Government is more reserved, with only 48% support and 31% unsure

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Why Professionals Use GenAI

Respondents highlighted the top reasons as:

- Automating routine and low-value tasks

- Achieving time savings and streamlined processes

- Lifting efficiency and productivity

- Improving the accuracy and quality of work

- Facilitating cost savings

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In day-to-day practice, GenAI is increasingly used for drafting, reviewing, generating standard communications, and conducting risk analysis.

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Why Some Are Still Hesitant

The main arguments against more widespread use include:

- Reliability and accuracy remain questionable in some contexts

- The risk of losing a human touch in problem-solving

- Concerns over AI’s limits with nuanced or complex judgement

- Potential for bias and incomplete information in tools

- The ongoing need for human oversight and regulation

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Legal and government respondents, in particular, cite the importance of robust frameworks, oversight, and ongoing evaluation of AI-generated work.

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Gap Between Belief and Practice

There is an evident gap between attitudes and application. Although a majority of clients—71% in tax and 57% in law—express a desire for their firms to use GenAI, many professionals are uncertain whether it is in regular use within their own organisation, especially in the legal field.

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Outlook

For GenAI to realise its potential, organisations will need to address these hesitation points through clearer policy, ongoing skills development, and establishing strong frameworks for oversight and evaluation. Those that lead in implementation—particularly in the tax and corporate sectors—will help create a blueprint for responsible, impactful AI deployment across the profession.

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This data is from a recent report by Thomson Reuters "Using AI in Professional Services: 2025 and Beyond". For a full industry breakdown of GenAI use and more on sector-specific trends, read the article.

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