Employees are rejecting leadership’s AI vision despite big push from the top
Despite increasing efforts by company leaders to integrate artificial intelligence into the workplace, most employees still do not view AI as a teammate, according to Slingshot’s Digital Work Trends Report. Instead, many employees see AI as a useful tool rather than a collaborative partner.
The report found that 52% of employees do not consider AI a teammate, although they acknowledge that it is helpful in completing tasks. Only 20% of employees believe AI acts as a teammate that supports and enhances their work.
Even among younger workers, the perception is similar. Just 28% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials consider AI a teammate, while nearly half of them — 47% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials — see AI simply as a helpful tool. Additionally, nearly 20% of employees in these groups are concerned that AI could potentially replace them at work.
Disconnect Between Leadership and Employees
The report also revealed a significant gap between how leadership and employees view AI in the workplace. About 41% of managers consider AI a teammate that can support employees. At the executive level, 48% of leaders believe AI is already mandatory for specific tasks, and 38% say it is required across the organisation.
However, this perception is not shared across all levels of management. Only 26% of mid-level managers believe AI is required for specific tasks, and just 23% think AI use is generally mandated in their organisation. These differences highlight a disconnect between leadership and employees when it comes to AI adoption and implementation.
According to Dean Guida, CEO of Infragistics and founder of Slingshot, simply positioning AI as a “teammate” at the leadership level does not automatically change how employees perceive or use the technology.
A Bottom-Up Approach to AI Adoption
The report suggests that this disconnect may be due to limited usage and lack of proper training. Around 54% of employees reported that they only use AI occasionally, indicating that while they find it helpful, they do not see it as essential to their daily work. Additionally, more than one-third of employees said they do not receive adequate training on the AI tools provided by their organisations.
To fully realise the benefits of AI, organisations need to adopt a bottom-up approach. This includes improving employee training, creating clear AI policies, and ensuring transparency in how AI is used within the company. By focusing on employee education and involvement, companies can encourage wider adoption and help employees see AI as a supportive partner rather than a replacement.
