New Research Shows AI Adoption Is Outpacing Employer Readiness

Futuresource Consulting’s latest study finds 67% of employees used AI for work in the past week, while 40% have received no employer training, guidance or policy support. 

Hybrid working has stabilised, the office remains central to collaboration, and employees increasingly know where and how they prefer to work. However, AI is shaking up the system. That’s one of the key findings from Futuresource Consulting’s new Evolution of Work Survey, based on research with 3,075 employees across France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK and USA. 

The study shows that two-thirds of employees used an AI assistant for work in the past week, while 78% report AI being used within their organisation. 

“AI has rapidly moved into everyday working life,” says Taran Sahota, Lead Insights Analyst, Futuresource Consulting, “yet organisational structures continue to lag behind. Employees are already using these tools for research, writing and analysis, and the opportunity is huge. However, there is still an organisational need to understand where AI fits, how it should be used and how employees are supported.” 

Broad AI adoption 

Futuresource’s research shows AI becoming a general-purpose work tool. Among employees who had used AI during the previous week, 93% used it to research information, while content creation, idea generation and data analysis were also widespread. 

AI agents are becoming part of the picture too. Nearly two-thirds of employees say they use agents capable of performing tasks independently, with research, document drafting and data analysis among the most common applications. 

Overall, employee sentiment is broadly receptive as well. 62% feel positive about AI in the workplace, and 63% say it helps them complete work tasks. More than half say AI has lightened their workload. 

The office is still important 

Beyond AI, three-quarters of respondents work primarily from the office, yet 42% would prefer a hybrid arrangement, and almost one-third aren’t currently in their preferred setup. Satisfaction is lowest among fully office-based workers and highest among those working fully remotely. 

The findings also challenge the idea that employees want to avoid the office. Connection with colleagues is the leading reason for office attendance, while collaborative project work, conversations with colleagues and presentations remain strongly associated with in-person working. 

“The debate around office versus home has become too polarised,” says Joyce Wang, Lead Analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “The reality is that employees make different choices for different tasks. The office continues to carry value for collaboration and relationships, while homeworking delivers flexibility and focus for tasks. The organisations that understand that distinction can make much more informed decisions about workplaces, technology and employee experiences.” 

Hybrid work creates a technology deficit 

Hybrid and flexible employees regularly carry an average of three device types between home and office. Three-quarters carry a laptop, more than half carry a smartphone, and 51% transport headphones or a headset. 

At home, the distinction between workplace and personal technology is becoming less defined. Among home workers, 45% use their work laptop for personal purposes too. Yet many home setups remain incomplete, with 69% of people who work from home part- or full-time believing they are missing at least one device or accessory. 

Too many meetings