A significant disconnect appears to be emerging between management and knowledge workers regarding the utility of AI platforms. According to a new survey by the work management platform Wrike, up to 80% of business leaders polled agreed that AI had improved the productivity of their organisation compared to only 51% of knowledge workers. Additionally, while 32% of managers felt that AI was helping with their workload, only 14% of knowledge workers felt the same way.
This difference in perspective suggests that, while AI may be benefiting leadership by streamlining decision-making and workflow management, it has not had the same impact on those carrying out the work.
Managerial and knowledge worker disconnect over AI’s impact
The survey also alludes to knowledge workers still struggling with inefficiencies that AI platform developers have yet to fully address. Consequently, many remain unconvinced about its day-to-day value.
The report comes as workplaces continue to evolve in response to remote and hybrid work models. Over the past year, knowledge workers have experienced a 31% increase in workloads, with business leaders seeing an even larger increase of 46% for their teams. Despite these growing demands, many workers feel that only a fraction of their work is high-impact.
Knowledge workers estimate that just 54% of their tasks are considered high-impact, while business leaders believe 57% of their own tasks fall into that category. This gap between increased workloads and perceived value is contributing to burnout and dissatisfaction, with less than two-thirds of workers expressing happiness in their roles.
Further compounding the issue, the report estimates that businesses are losing $15,138.03 per employee each year due to inefficiencies such as unproductive meetings and duplicated work. These inefficiencies, often in the form of low-impact tasks, are seen as areas where AI could potentially make a bigger difference, but so far its impact has been limited.
To gather these insights, Wrike partnered with Sapio Research to survey 1,000 business leaders and 2,500 knowledge workers across the U.S., UK, DACH, France, and Japan. The research targeted individuals working in companies with more than 500 employees, offering a broad overview of perspectives across various industries.
“Our research shows that businesses are at a critical juncture,” said Wrike’s CEO, Thomas Scott. “Organisations that take decisive action to prioritise impactful work, consolidate tools, and embrace automation will not only see increased efficiency but also happier, more engaged employees.”
A separate survey conducted by Kahoot! reveals that 46% of office workers expect their skills to be replaced by AI within the next five years. The study, which surveyed 1,041 full-time employees from the tech, healthcare, and financial sectors, also found that 29% believe this change could happen even sooner. These findings highlight growing concerns around upskilling as AI’s impact continues to be felt throughout multiple sectors.
However, the Kahoot! survey also points to significant barriers, with workers citing time constraints and a lack of relevant training as major challenges in staying competitive in an increasingly automated environment.
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