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Gap in Expectations: Employees and CEOs Differ on AI's Impact

Published January 26, 2026, 07:10
Gap in Expectations: Employees and CEOs Differ on AI's Impact

A new study reveals a significant gap in perceptions regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) between business executives and employees. While executives believe AI will substantially increase productivity, employees have not experienced significant time savings in their daily work and many feel unease about its integration. According to Section's research, two-thirds of non-managerial staff report that AI saves them less than two hours per week, while over 40% of executives report saving more than eight hours. This suggests that executives' expectations are much higher than the reality experienced by employees. Employees express concerns and anxiety about AI, with a significant percentage (40%) stating they would not want to use it again. The use of AI is primarily limited to basic functions, such as replacing searches or creating drafts, and less frequently to more complex tasks, such as data analysis or code generation. The study highlights the need for a better understanding of the real-world impact of AI on employees and for more effective integration strategies that take into account their concerns and needs, in order to fully leverage the potential of the technology.