Despite significant investments in artificial intelligence, companies are not achieving the expected workforce productivity gains, according to a recent study by Gartner.
AI spending on the rise, but savings remain elusive
However, the report suggests that organizations are unlikely to generate cost savings from AI at this stage.
The study highlights a disconnect between AI promises and actual outcomes. 95% of corporate earnings call discussions related to AI productivity focus on future gains, indicating that executives are optimistic but have not yet seen tangible results.
Leadership misalignment and workforce challenges
Gartner’s research reveals that 78% of leaders are not aligned on how AI is beneficial in their workplace. Arj Bagga, a vice president analyst, emphasized the need for a shared understanding of AI’s value to effectively position the workforce and capture value from investments.
The report suggests that HR teams play a key role in ensuring AI strategies bring value to the workplace and mitigating potential risks associated with technology adoption. It also highlights the importance of preparing for the employee implications of AI implementation.
AI’s Impact on Employee Roles and Future Work
The report emphasizes that HR must address the employee implications of uneven AI implementation. It suggests that leaders should envision future work possibilities and then adjust for practical realities. This approach allows for the exploration of new capabilities and growth opportunities enabled by AI.
Upskilling employees and redirecting capacity
A Gartner survey of over 1,800 employees found that only 21% of time saved by AI is redirected into more innovative work. This indicates a need for upskilling employees to produce higher-quality AI-enabled work.
Viverito noted that while organizations are creating capacity through AI, they struggle to make it usable and redirect it effectively. The best-case scenario for AI may be its integration with existing employee frameworks, rather than functioning independently.
The report suggests that AI’s greatest potential lies in enabling new capabilities and sources of growth. However, a recent study found that only 9% of CEOs consider AI agents transformational, while 43% report moderate impacts in targeted use cases. Despite this, 84% of CEOs still prioritize AI as a top investment over the next three years.
