April 10, 2026
Employee engagement falls worldwide as AI investment fails to deliver productivity gains
by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Wellbeing, Workplace
Global employee engagement has declined for a second consecutive year, despite rapid investment in artificial intelligence, according to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report. The study, based on one of the largest ongoing surveys of employee experience, suggests that organisations are struggling to translate technological change into measurable improvements in performance or working life. Employee engagement fell to 20 percent in 2025, down from a peak of 23 percent in 2022 and its lowest level since 2020. This decline has significant economic implications, with Gallup estimating that low engagement costs the global economy around $10 trillion in lost productivity, equivalent to 9 percent of global GDP. (more…)
April 9, 2026
Use of unauthorised AI sparks security and compliance concerns for businesses
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
Two thirds of business leaders in the UK are worried about potential data security and compliance risks stemming from employees’ unregulated use of artificial intelligence tools, according a new poll of senior decision-makers within UK businesses, commissioned by Studio Graphene. The design studio commissioned Censuswide to survey 500 managers, directors and C-suite executives within UK businesses. It found that almost half (48 percent) of respondents know or suspect that employees in their organisation are using AI tools that have not been officially approved – this rises to 54 percent for larger companies (over 250 employees). (more…)
April 1, 2026
Creativity, thinking and expertise in the workplace should be safeguarded from AI
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
Workplace professionals and general managers should proceed with caution if they want to use AI to improve efficiency and human capital in the workplace, and should take steps to ensure creativity and critical thinking are preserved, new research from the University of Bath School of Management suggests. The research team identified two types of knowledge which appeared partially compatible with AI – encoded knowledge, which encompasses rules, procedures, policies, and datasets; and embedded knowledge – essentially digitalised processes and routines. (more…)
March 25, 2026
AI adoption slows in workplaces despite hype and massive investment
by Mark Eltringham • AI, News
Corporate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be slowing, raising questions about the pace at which the technology will deliver economic returns, according to a new analysis of data in The Economist. Figures quoted from the US Census Bureau suggest that the proportion of employees using AI at work has edged down to around 11 percent in recent weeks. The decline is most notable among larger organisations with more than 250 staff, where uptake had previously been stronger. The findings indicate that, three years into the current wave of generative AI development, business demand may be less robust than anticipated. (more…)
March 24, 2026
Greater use of AI linked to more collaborative work patterns, survey claims
by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Workplace design
Employees who make frequent use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools are spending less time working alone and more time collaborating and learning with colleagues, according to a new global workplace survey from the Gensler Research Institute. The Global Workplace Survey 2026, based on responses from more than 16,000 office workers across 16 countries, suggests that as routine tasks become automated, work is shifting towards more human-centred activities, including mentoring, problem solving and teamwork. (more…)
March 19, 2026
Half of SMEs using AI with limited impact on headcount (so far)
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
More than half of UK firms are now using artificial intelligence, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce, marking a sharp increase in adoption but with little immediate effect on workforce size. The survey, carried out in partnership with Atos, suggests that 54 percent of businesses are actively using AI. This represents a notable rise from previous BCC findings, which showed adoption at 35 percent in 2025, 25 percent in 2024 and 23 percent in 2023. (more…)
March 19, 2026
Most firms are already using AI, but not many are seeing a return
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
While over three quarters of UK businesses are now using artificial intelligence tools, the vast majority are yet to see any return on their investments, according to a new poll from Studio Graphene. The digital product studio commissioned Censuswide to survey 500 managers, directors and C-suite executives within UK businesses. It found that 78 percent of the businesses polled are using AI in some capacity – rising to 85 percent for mid-sized organisations (100-249 employees), the highest of any group. (more…)
March 12, 2026
The British seem more worried about robots than anybody else
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
British adults are more anxious about robots than people in any other major economy, according to a new global study which suggests the unease may stem from a lack of exposure to the technology in everyday life. The research, published by technology firm Hexagon, is based on a survey 18,000 people across nine countries for its Robot Generation report. It found that 52 percent of adults in the UK say they worry something might go wrong when they think about interacting with robots. The global average is 42 percent, while in South Korea the figure is just 29 percent. (more…)
March 12, 2026
AI users report stronger workplace connections, according to Gensler survey
by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Technology, Workplace
New research from Gensler suggests that employees who make the greatest use of artificial intelligence tools are also among the most connected to their colleagues, challenging assumptions that increased use of technology leads to more isolated ways of working. The firm’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey gathered responses from more than 16,400 office workers across 16 countries. Around 30 percent of respondents were identified as “AI power users”, defined as people who regularly use AI tools in both their work and personal lives. (more…)
February 10, 2026
AI adoption exposes generational divide in management, research finds
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
KEDGE Business School has published new research suggesting that artificial intelligence is already reshaping management practice, but that a strong generational divide is emerging in how leaders use the technology. The findings come from an OpinionWay survey carried out in October 2025 among managers, and point to younger leaders adopting AI at a significantly faster pace than their older counterparts. While AI tools such as ChatGPT are now widely used across the profession, the study suggests that managers under 40 are far more likely to integrate AI into day-to-day leadership decisions, while older managers remain more cautious and selective. (more…)
February 3, 2026
Senior leaders identified as highest AI risk in UK organisations, study claims
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
Senior leaders are emerging as the highest-risk users of artificial intelligence in UK organisations, according to new research which suggests AI-related business failures are being driven more by leadership behaviour than by technology or junior staff. (more…)






February 23, 2026
AI will either save work or destroy it. Apparently.
by Jo Sutherland • AI, Comment