The World of Work is Changing, Employees Are Already Feeling the Impact

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is already changing daily habits, including in the world of work. For the first time, global analytics and management consulting firm Gallup reports that half of adult workers in the United States (US) use AI at least a few times a year, up from 46% in the previous quarter.

Regular AI use is also increasing, with 13% of employees admitting to using AI every day, and 28% using it several times a week.

AI adoption rates in companies are also rising, albeit at a slower pace. As many as 41% of employees say their companies have integrated AI technology or tools to improve organisational practices, up three points from the previous quarter.

Gallup’s survey from 4-19 February 2026 of 23,717 US employees shows that the growing presence of AI is beginning to reshape workplace dynamics.

Workforce Changes in the AI Era

Employees in companies that have adopted AI are more likely to report changes, both positive and negative, in the workforce sector. Employees who frequently use AI say the tool increases their productivity, although the impact on collective working methods in a company remains limited.

As many as 27% of employees in companies that have adopted AI say their workplace has changed significantly or very significantly in the past year. In comparison, 17% of employees in companies that have not adopted AI reported the same level of change.

These changes appear to be closely related to shifts in workforce composition. Employees in organisations that have adopted AI are more likely to report workforce expansions and reductions.

Compared to employees in organisations that have not implemented AI, they more often say that their companies are recruiting new people and expanding the workforce (34% vs. 28%) or dismissing employees and reducing the workforce (23% vs. 16%).

Fundamental changes in the number of workers are more prominent in organisations that have adopted AI, especially among small and medium-sized companies.

Staffing patterns based on AI use differ in large companies. Employees in organisations that have adopted AI with 10,000 or fewer employees are more likely to report workforce reductions (33%) than expansions (30%).

This contrasts with companies with 10,000 or more employees that have not adopted AI. In these organisations, 36% reported recruitment and workforce expansion compared to 23% that reported reductions.

Workforce changes within large companies can shape public perceptions of AI’s impact on jobs.

Workers’ concerns about job loss have increased along with the expansion of AI adoption and shifts in company dynamics. As many as 18% of all US employees say it is very or somewhat likely that their job will be eliminated in the next five years due to AI or automation.

Among employees working in organisations that have adopted AI, that figure rises to 23%.

Increased Productivity Still at the Individual Level

In companies implementing AI, as many as 65% of employees say AI has improved productivity and work efficiency. As many as 16% say the effect is positive, although there are also those who mention the negative impact of AI adoption in the world of work.

Active AI users tend to feel increased productivity and seem likely to continue using AI to drive maximum work results. They admit that AI helps complete certain specific tasks more efficiently, such as drafting written content, summarising information, and gathering ideas.

However, the benefits of using AI in the world of work are more focused on the individual work level rather than broader use in overall workflow systems. Only one in ten employees in companies that have adopted AI agree that AI has brought a massive transformation in terms of how work is done in their company.

These findings are consistent with empirical evidence from company-level studies in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia, which show that executives report minimal AI impact on productivity over the past three years.

The gap between reported individual and company-level productivity indicates that while AI helps many employees work more efficiently, many organisations have not yet fundamentally redesigned workflows, roles, or processes around AI.

AI is Useful for Company Bosses

Employees’ experiences with AI, according to the Gallup report, are determined by the type of work they do. Among employees who use AI at least a few times a year or more, most hold leadership-level positions. They feel increased productivity.

As many as 21% of workers in leadership roles report a positive impact on their work, compared to 13% of regular staff.

This difference reflects AI tools that are more useful at the managerial leadership level. Leaders are more likely to work in knowledge-based and remote-capable roles, where they can apply AI tools for tasks such as analysis, communication, and planning.

Differences also emerge across job categories. Among employees reporting AI use, healthcare workers and employees in technical and professional roles stand out as early leaders in reported productivity gains.

Conversely, workers in service roles and office administrative support roles are more likely to say that AI has little or no effect. In fact, it is not uncommon for them to say that AI has an effect