New research has revealed that while AI adoption in workplaces is up, confidence in the technology’s outcomes is down.
According to ADP Research’s People at Work 2026 report, almost half of workers globally (44 per cent in Australia) are using AI in their everyday work multiple times a week, with one in five workers surveyed saying they use AI almost every day (16 per cent in Australia).
However, those users aren’t all feeling the productivity gains and value that the technology has long promised. Thirty per cent of users feel fully engaged when using AI every day, but daily users also reported being four times more likely to feel less productive than those who don’t use AI or not every day.
You’re out of free articles for this month
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
This represents a significant gap in adoption and results, particularly in Australia, where only 13 per cent of users expect that it will positively impact their job responsibilities in the next 12 months.
“Australian workers are clearly embracing AI, but confidence in its value hasn’t caught up with adoption. That gap is critical,” Kylie Baullo, ADP general manager for Australia, New Zealand and Japan, said.
“What we’re seeing is a shift in how work gets done. As AI takes over routine tasks, employees are spending more time on complex, strategic work, which can feel less tangible and harder to measure. This can create the perception of reduced productivity, even when impact is growing.
“For employers, the priority now is to close this gap by helping people build confidence in AI, through practical training, clearer use cases and redefining how productivity is measured. When organisations get this right, AI becomes not just a tool, but a catalyst for more meaningful and engaging work.”
That being said, stress levels among daily AI users were reportedly less than half of non-users, with 11 per cent feeling negative stress compared to 23 per cent.
“AI is not only changing how work gets done, but also how people feel at work,” ADP chief economist Dr Nela Richardson said.
“Our data shows that frequent AI users report higher engagement and lower stress. But they also feel less productive. Employers that help workers transition to new ways of working with the technology can better foster a workplace where AI feels less like a disruption and more like a teammate.”
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Cyber Daily a preferred news source on Google.
Daniel Croft
Born in the heart of Western Sydney, Daniel Croft is a passionate journalist with an understanding for and experience writing in the technology space. Having studied at Macquarie University, he joined Momentum Media in 2022, writing across a number of publications including Australian Aviation, Cyber Security Connect and Defence Connect. Outside of writing, Daniel has a keen interest in music, and spends his time playing in bands around Sydney.