Daily AI users see big rewards, but most workers and employers lagging behind
A trio of new global surveys released November 12, 2025, reveals a striking paradox in the world of workplace artificial intelligence: while nearly all large organizations now use AI, only a minority of workers and companies are seeing its full benefits.
The findings, from PwC, Zapier, and Kelly Services, highlight a growing divide in skills, access, and outcomes—underscoring that the promise of AI is far from evenly distributed.
“This isn't just a technology story; it's a people story. Workers thrive when they understand the plan,” said Nicki Wakefield, Global Clients & Industries Leader at PwC.
Daily GenAI users report higher pay, productivity
According to PwC’s 2025 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey, workers who use generative AI (GenAI) daily are much more likely to report tangible benefits: 92% cite higher productivity, 58% see greater job security, and 52% have received a pay boost—all significantly higher than infrequent users (58%, 36%, and 32% respectively).
Yet, only 14% of global workers use GenAI daily, and just over half (54%) have used any AI in their roles in the past year.
Pete Brown, Global Workforce Leader at PwC, said, “Employees using AI every day are reaping the rewards – higher productivity, greater job security and better pay. But to scale these benefits, businesses must go beyond training.
“Work itself needs to be redesigned and the human–machine partnership redefined. Getting this right will determine whether GenAI becomes a true engine of growth and inclusion, or a missed opportunity.”
However, the survey also reveals a widening upskilling divide: only 51% of non-managers feel they have access to adequate learning and development resources, compared to 72% of senior executives. The gap is even starker among daily AI users (75% feel supported) versus infrequent users (59%).
AI adoption nearly universal, but benefits patchy
Zapier’s Enterprise AI Benefits survey finds that 97% of U.S. enterprises have adopted AI in some form, but only half of leaders say the benefits are widespread across their organizations. The other half report uneven, limited, or non-existent gains.
While 73% of companies have formal processes to track AI return on investment (ROI), 91% admit they still struggle to measure AI’s true value.
Emily Mabie, AI Automation Engineer at Zapier, noted, “Our data shows that enterprises are struggling to scale AI’s value beyond isolated successes. The key to closing the gap is orchestration, connecting data, tools, and teams so AI delivers measurable outcomes everywhere.”
Time savings is the single biggest AI payoff, cited by 25% of enterprises—more than three times higher than cost savings (8%). HR departments are outpacing Marketing and Sales in AI adoption and benefits (26% vs. 23% and 13%), while IT remains the top user and beneficiary.
Leadership optimism clashes with worker experience
The Kelly Global Re:work Report highlights a disconnect between executives and employees: 69% of executives believe refusing to adopt AI is a greater threat to someone’s job than AI itself, and 59% say they would replace workers who resist using these tools.
Yet, fewer than half of workers (47%) report time savings from AI, and one in three (32%) say they are not seeing the benefits. Meanwhile, 80% of executives admit AI implementation is stalling because teams lack the expertise to use these tools effectively.
Chris Layden, CEO of Kelly, said, “While leaders view AI as a smart upgrade, talent is split on whether it delivers the promised benefits or threatens their jobs. Our research shows companies can only realize the full value of AI when people understand why it matters to the business, are trained to use the technology, and trust that it benefits their own roles.”
Measuring AI’s value major challenge
Despite widespread adoption, 91% of enterprises struggle with managing AI tools across departments, citing issues like security, integration, and training. Only 9% report “no significant challenges,” found Zapier.
The measurement gap is especially stark: companies that track ROI are 10 times more likely to generate new revenue from AI (10% vs. 1%).
Industry patterns show tech and software companies lead in ROI tracking (87%), while healthcare, education, and media lag behind, found Zapier. The biggest obstacles to measurement include long-term benefits that are hard to quantify, qualitative outcomes, attribution challenges, lack of baseline data, and technical complexity.
Nearly half of security and privacy professionals have admitted that employees' information is entered into generative AI tools despite organisations' privacy concerns, according to a separate report.
Recommendations for organizations
Experts from all three reports agree: to unlock AI’s full potential, organizations must focus on integration, measurement, and people. Recommendations include:
- Connecting AI tools across teams to avoid data silos and tool sprawl
- Establishing formal ROI processes and measuring what matters
- Empowering every team with accessible, no-code AI tools
- Standardizing workflows and consolidating redundant tools
- Reinvesting time savings into innovation and employee engagement
- Providing targeted training and fostering a culture of trust and learning
