Yes — for highly repetitive roles (data entry, tier-1 support, scheduling), AI can replace a UK full-time employee at 60–80% of the cost, with higher accuracy and 24/7 availability. For judgement-heavy roles, AI replaces 50–70% of the work, not the role.
Honest UK 2026 answer: can AI fully replace a full-time employee? Which roles, which it can't, and what the real saving is.