What’s the office going to look like two decades hence? Neural implants, which link the human brain directly to external devices, is the top emerging technology global workers expect to see in the workplace by 2050, according to new research by the International Workplace Group.

Both HR leaders and employees believe workplace technology will be unrecognisable by 2050, as innovations such as neurotechnology — already developed by companies such as Synchron and Elon Musk’s Neuralink — move closer to real-world application. Intelligent systems are also expected to automate complex workflows and accelerate decision-making. Artificial intelligence and automation will also continue to transform the workplace. Around two-thirds of HR leaders and employees think AI will determine the optimal location and timing for collaboration.

India is top ranked on the ‘AI advantage’ score — a measure of the real-world impact of AI at work, based on the time it saves employees — at 53 points (against a global average of 34), with 86 per cent of employees and 90 per cent of employers reporting that AI has had a positive impact on productivity. AI-enhanced training is also accelerating learning, whether in college or on the job.

Published on June 8, 2026