Most workers don't see AI as a teammate, despite what leadership believes
A disconnect has emerged between how managers view artificial intelligence and how employees actually use it. Only 20% of workers consider AI a teammate that supports their job, according to Slingshot's Digital Work Trends Report, while 52% see it as helpful but not a colleague.
The gap widens at the top. Among executives, 48% say AI is mandatory for specific tasks, and 38% believe it's required across the organization. Yet just 26% of mid-level managers and 23% of employees say AI is mandated in general.
Even younger workers-typically more comfortable with technology-don't adopt the "teammate" framing. Only 28% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials view AI as a teammate. Around half of both groups consider it a helpful tool, while nearly 20% worry it will replace them.
Why the disconnect matters for HR
The perception gap reflects practical barriers, not just mindset differences. More than half of employees use AI only occasionally, treating it as non-critical. Over a third lack adequate training on the tools they're already using.
Dean Guida, CEO of Infragistics and founder of Slingshot, said the issue stems from top-down implementation. "While the top office may be putting AI at the centre of business processes and decision making, this 'teammate mentality' doesn't automatically trickle down to the entire organisation."
Guida recommends a bottom-up approach instead. Organizations should focus on employee education, clear AI policies, and transparency about how the technology works and where it's deployed.
For HR professionals managing AI adoption, the findings suggest that executive buy-in alone won't drive workplace integration. AI for Human Resources strategies that address training gaps and employee concerns will likely prove more effective than top-level mandates.
HR leaders responsible for AI strategy across their organizations may find additional context in the AI Learning Path for CHROs, which addresses workforce analytics and talent management implications of AI adoption.
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