Artificial intelligence is splitting workplace culture down the middle at companies that use it, according to a Gallup survey of U.S. employees. Among workers at AI-adopting organizations, 25 percent said culture worsened over the past year while 24 percent said it improved. At organizations without AI adoption, 59 percent reported no change.
Of employees who noticed a shift, 46 percent attributed it somewhat or a great deal to technology such as automation or AI. Gallup researchers Morgan Meinen and Megan Mulherin concluded that "the introduction of AI alone doesn't create a consistently better workplace."
Manager behavior separates winners from losers
The survey of 102 CHROs found that 99 percent consider AI somewhat or very important to their organization's strategy. That confidence does not extend down the chain. Half of CHROs said they are not very confident, or not at all confident, in their managers' ability to guide employees on using AI at work.
Gallup identified manager behavior as the clearest differentiator between organizations where AI is improving culture and those where it is not. Employees who strongly agree their manager champions AI were far more likely to say the technology has transformed how work gets done, at 33 percent, compared with 4 percent among those who do not strongly agree.
Among employees who strongly agree their manager actively supports the team's AI use, 31 percent reported an improved culture over the past year, versus 21 percent of those without that backing. Nine percent of the former group said culture had improved a great deal, compared with 3 percent of the latter.
Training exists but capacity is strained
Gallup found that 57 percent of CHROs surveyed are now providing AI-specific training for people managers. Seventy-eight percent are encouraging peer-to-peer learning, and 62 percent are establishing centers of excellence or internal AI champions.
Gallup cautioned that training alone is unlikely to be enough. Managers already carry expanding responsibilities and wider spans of control, meaning AI transformation duties risk becoming another competing demand rather than a supported priority.
"Many CHROs are investing in manager training and AI champions, reflecting an emphasis on helping managers guide employees through workplace change," said Meinen and Mulherin. "The findings underscore the importance of supporting managers throughout this transition. Equipping managers with clear communication, resources and support to lead change may be just as important as investing in the technology itself."
For managers looking to build these skills, AI for HR Managers covers the practical side of guiding teams through AI adoption. Broader guidance on AI for Management addresses how to lead change without overloading teams.
What the evidence shows
Other research points to the same conclusion: technology alone does not determine culture outcomes. The Society for Human Resource Management found that strong AI-driven culture outcomes depend on organizations having cultures that support learning, clear communication and responsible use, based on a survey of nearly 5,900 U.S.-based workers.
McKinsey's State of Organizations research shows employees are generally more ready to adopt AI than leaders assume. The World Economic Forum found that involving employees directly in AI design and rollout improves trust and lowers adoption risk. Gartner's 2026 CHRO Priorities research found some organizations are experiencing "culture atrophy" amid rapid technological change, with deliberate culture-building ranking as a top HR priority.
Why this matters for management
Managers sit at the point where AI either strengthens or erodes culture. The Gallup data suggests that actively championing AI use, rather than simply tolerating it, produces measurably better results. That means explaining why the organization is adopting AI, connecting it to team goals, and making room for employees to learn without treating AI duties as an add-on to already full workloads. The difference between a 21 percent and 31 percent culture-improvement rate comes down to whether managers visibly support their teams' AI use.
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