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 1 in 5 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. 30 per cent of users feel fully engaged when using AI every day, but daily users also reported being 4 times more likely to feel less productive than users that don’t use AI or not every day.
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,” said ADP General Manager for Australia, New Zealand and Japan, Kylie Baullo.
“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 of 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,” said ADP Chief Economist, Dr. Nela Richardson.
“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.”
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