Survey Reveals Significant Gap in How Senior Leaders and Employees Perceive AI Value in Workplace

A recent survey of 1,000 knowledge workers from mmhmm revealed a significant gap in how different levels of workers perceive the value of generative AI in the workplace. While workers understand that AI can automate tasks, they find the most value in AI helping them communicate more effectively. The survey uncovered a stark divide between the value senior leadership sees in AI and how employees perceive it, as well as possible hidden AI activity happening throughout organizations.

Senior leaders are three times more likely than other workers to use AI as a daily work assistant, with 14% of executives already considering AI indispensable to their jobs. Executives embrace AI as a decision-making partner, with 76% wanting AI to assist in decision-making rather than make choices for them. Nearly two-thirds of executives are comfortable with AI-generated content as long as it maintains human-like quality. For deeper insights into these findings, visit https://mmhmm.app/blog.

In contrast, many individual contributors worry about AI's impact on job security, and nearly a third of Gen-Z workers feel guilt or embarrassment when using AI tools. This leads to hidden AI activity in the workplace, as 32% of Gen-Z workers say they secretly use AI, even as some openly criticize colleagues for the same activity. The generational divide and hidden usage patterns suggest organizations may be underestimating actual AI adoption rates.

Despite these differing perspectives, both executives and individual contributors agree that generative AI's biggest benefit is in helping them become better communicators. Workers are using AI to help structure thoughts, refine messaging, and improve clarity in workplace discussions, with 47% of workers saying AI helps them become more compelling communicators. Twice as many employees turn to AI for communication support over technical activities like coding or data analysis. This survey represents part 2 in a series, with part 1 available at https://mmhmm.app/blog.

The findings highlight the need for organizations to address the perception gap between leadership and employees regarding AI's role and value. The hidden usage patterns, particularly among younger workers, suggest that current workplace policies and cultural attitudes may not align with actual AI adoption practices. As generative AI continues to transform work environments, understanding these divergent perspectives will be crucial for effective AI integration and workforce development strategies.