There is a notable gap in how the impact of artificial intelligence on workplace productivity is perceived. While business leaders praise it as a transformative tool, many employees do not experience its supposed benefits in their daily work.
This discrepancy comes from a recent study conducted by the consultancy Section, which surveyed 5,000 professionals. The results reveal opposing views depending on hierarchical level:
From the management perspective:
- 33% stated that AI saves them between 4 and 8 hours per week.
- 19% claimed to save more than 12 hours.
- Only 2% reported no time savings at all.
From the employee perspective:
- 40% said AI does not save them any time.
- 27% reported saving less than 2 hours per week.
- Only 2% confirmed saving more than 12 hours per week.
Another report from Workday adds critical nuance, suggesting that even these reported savings might be illusory. According to their data, approximately 85% of those who claimed to save time with AI actually spent that time later correcting errors generated by these tools.
The adoption and usefulness of AI also vary significantly across sectors. While the technology industry leads its implementation, with developers speeding up coding tasks (though sometimes introducing new errors), others like retail show more limited adoption. Overall, the study reveals that 85% of workers do not use AI in their roles or only at a very basic level.
This disconnect has led 40% of the surveyed employees to express willingness to completely forgo these tools in the future.
The warning issued by Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, during the Davos Forum, resonates with these findings. Nadella emphasized that the industry must ensure that the benefits of AI effectively reach end users, warning that without tangible improvements in health, education, public efficiency, and business competitiveness, the “social permission” to develop and consume these technological resources could quickly erode.
The reports from Section and Workday suggest that this social acceptance may be weakening even before consolidating—a signal that companies heavily betting on AI should seriously consider. The gap between promise and real-world experience could determine the future of these technologies in the workplace.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director