'This isn't just a technology rollout; it's a human transformation that requires intentional support to redefine the partnership between people and AI,' says expert
While the majority of employees are eager to adopt agentic artificial intelligence (AI) in their roles, workers are feeling anxiety around the use of the technology, according to an Ernst & Young (EY) report.
Currently, 84% of employees are enthusiastic about integrating agentic AI into their daily work. This optimism is driven by expectations of improved productivity, efficiency, and overall work experience. However, this excitement is tempered by significant concerns: 56% of respondents worry about their job security when working alongside AI agents, and 51% fear that agentic AI could render their roles obsolete.
There is also a notable divide between people managers and non-managers when it comes to the perception of AI. While 65% of non-managers express anxiety about job security in an AI-augmented workplace, only 48% of people managers share this concern.
“Our data reinforces that while the workforce is demonstrably ready for innovation-fuelled change, this valuable AI enthusiasm is threatened by underlying anxieties,” says Kim Billeter, EY Global People Consulting Leader. “We are at a critical juncture where leaders must provide structured and comprehensive training. This isn’t just a technology rollout; it’s a human transformation that requires intentional support to redefine the partnership between people and AI.”
Executives and managers are far more likely to use AI than individual contributors, according to a previous Perceptyx report.
‘Fumbling the fundamentals of strategy’
According to EY’s survey of 1,148 U.S. desk workers, “organisations are fumbling the fundamentals of strategy, training and communication,” creating a paradox where enthusiasm and anxiety coexist, according to EY.
Nearly 9 in 10 (85%) desk workers report that they are learning how to work with AI agents outside of work hours, with 83% stating that most of their knowledge is self-taught. This lack of structured training is contributing to a sense of being left behind: 54% of employees feel they are falling behind their peers in agentic AI adoption, a figure that rises to 61% among non-managers compared to 48% of managers.
The constant influx of new AI tools and information is also overwhelming for many. Sixty-one percent of desk workers feel inundated by the pace of change, and among those already using agentic AI, 64% are overwhelmed by the number of new tools introduced at their workplace.
Dan Diasio, EY Global Consulting AI Leader, warns that “poor communication breeds operational uncertainty and inertia.” He stresses that organisations must “articulate their complete AI roadmap, covering everything from ethical guardrails to comprehensive training, to harness employee enthusiasm and drive performance. When leaders are transparent, employees lean in and performance follows,” EY reports.
As the technology becomes more prevalent in business, a significant number of U.S. employees remain uneasy about AI use in payroll management, according to a previous survey.
The value of communication in AI use
Despite these challenges, agentic AI is already delivering results, according to EY. Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) employees say AI agents have had a positive impact on their team’s productivity, and 90% of those using agentic AI feel confident in their abilities.
However, 53% of people managers are concerned about their ability to supervise AI-augmented teams, and 82% believe managing AI agents will make their jobs more challenging. Sixty-three percent of non-managers are hesitant to pursue management roles due to concerns about overseeing AI-integrated teams.
Organisations investing in communication and training see stronger adoption and better results. Only 52% of senior leaders say their organisation has a fully deployed initiative for agentic AI training or upskilling. Where organisations clearly communicate their AI strategy, 92% of workers report productivity gains—a 30-point increase over those without such communication. Employees in these organisations are also more likely to use agentic AI (66% vs. 39%) and to be eager to embrace it (87% vs. 69%).
However, the communication gap is most pronounced for employees below the VP level: 21% say their organisation has not clearly communicated its AI agent strategy, compared to just 9% of VP-level and above employees. While 89% of all employees believe upskilling is crucial for staying relevant, 59% cite a lack of adequate training as a barrier.
“The pace of agentic AI adoption is creating immense growth potential, but in this era of uncertainty, leaders must address the urgent need to rapidly innovate with a clear and focused agentic AI communication and training strategy that puts their employees at the centre,” says Whitt Butler, EY Americas Vice Chair for Consulting. “To realise the true transformative impact of agentic AI, companies must execute a human-centric strategy focused on managing change, building confidence across the entire hybrid workforce, and ultimately turning the risk of inaction into a decisive competitive advantage.”
While Canadian workplaces are increasingly adopting AI, most employees—especially in human resources—are using these tools without proper training, and many are concerned about the future of their jobs, according to a separate report from Growclass and Angus Reid.
