Most Employees Worldwide Still Unprepared for AI at Work, Reveals Research

AI is moving faster than most employees around the world can keep up with, causing ‘AI anxiety’ in the workplace, according to a new study.

The new global study by Perceptyx, the AI company for employee experience, revealed that while artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering workplaces, many employees still feel unprepared, unsupported and unsure whether it’s being used fairly.

The research reveals growing “AI anxiety” across industries, especially among younger workers and individual contributors. As adoption accelerates, the report warns, the gap between those ready for AI and those left behind is widening, threatening engagement, trust and equity.

WORKPLACE AI ANXIETY

The survey findings, of more than 3,600 employees across North America and Europe, suggest that AI integration is widespread, but far from even. Seventy-one per cent of employees report some level of AI usage at work. Yet only 15% say their teams are fully leveraging it.

The divide deepens by role. Just 35% of individual contributors currently use AI, compared with 68% of managers and 82% of executives. Workload and skill impacts are sharpest at the top: between 81-85% of managers and executives say AI has changed their workload, while 84-90% say they need new skills to keep pace. Among individual contributors, that figure drops to 67%.

LOW CONFIDENCE & TRUST IN AI

Individual contributors report the lowest levels of confidence in how AI is being used. Only 47% say they understand how AI adoption decisions are made. Just 43% believe AI-supported decisions are fair, and another 47% feel their organisation is transparent about its use.

Trust also varies sharply by generation. Gen Z employees – despite being the most experimental with AI – trust their organisations the least. Only 62% of Gen Z workers trust their employer to use AI ethically, compared with 72-74% of older generations.

Across all employees, 53% fear bias or discrimination in AI-driven decisions, while 38% remain unclear on how AI will affect their roles.

AI CULTURE & TRUST

“These findings show us that global AI adoption is not just a productivity story, it’s a stress test for organisational culture and trust,” said Brad Wilson, Global Head of Workforce Insights and Innovation at Perceptyx.

“Organisations that ignore gaps in trust, fairness, and manager enablement risk disengaging employees, especially those closest to day-to-day execution,” Wilson said. “A human-centred approach to AI is essential to realise its full potential.”

The study warns that without stronger communication, support, and equitable access to AI tools, organisations risk deepening workplace divides. Employees who feel excluded or uninformed are more likely to disengage, slowing adoption and eroding confidence in leadership. The analysis shows that the organisations most likely to succeed will not simply deploy AI fastest, but will embed it into the employee experience, using it to empower people rather than replace them.

BUILDING TRUST THROUGH TRANSPARENCY

The report identifies several key strategies for leaders aiming to close readiness gaps and build confidence in AI-driven workplaces:

• Communicate clearly about AI tools, their purpose, and how they impact roles.
• Equip managers to guide teams through AI-related changes and support adoption.
• Address skill gaps and equity issues to ensure all employees – not just senior staff –benefit from AI.
• Leverage employee experience tools that help organisations move from listening to acting on employee feedback.

“Without trust, transparency, and team-level enablement, AI adoption will stall,” the report concludes. “The organisations that succeed will integrate AI into the employee experience in ways that drive engagement, productivity, and long-term business impact.”

AI COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

This marks Perceptyx’s first large-scale global benchmark of AI readiness at work. The study offers a warning, but also a roadmap. As AI transforms the workplace, the findings suggest that success will depend less on speed and more on inclusion, transparency and trust.

Those that get it right will turn AI into a genuine competitive advantage. Those that don’t may face a workforce more anxious than empowered. 

Check out the full report here.

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