Roundup: Executives, Workers Differ on Priorities for AI

More research uncovers a disconnect between how executives and workers view AI.

How successful are AI transformation efforts? The answer may depend on where you sit.

More than three-quarters of executives, about 79%, believe they’ll meet their AI transformation goals, according to the digital adoption platform WalkMe. However, less than a third of employees, 28%, believe they’re adequately trained to do their part. Meanwhile, just 25% of workers say AI helps them work more efficiently.

Despite that, enterprise companies will continue to spend millions on AI. That spending is expected to rise by 64% this year at large enterprises, from $14 million to $23 million. Companies could increase their digital transformation’s ROI significantly, from 22% to 64%, with relatively modest tweaks to their approach, WalkMe said. The bottom line: AI investments often fail without an effective adoption program.

More Money

Companies are investing more in their adoption efforts, with spending in the area rising from $2.8 million in 2023 to $5.1 in 2025. They’ve also assigned more people to their efforts: Some 73% of large organizations have six or more people responsible for driving software adoption, compared to 63% in 2024.

Another discrepancy: Executives believe their workers use software more often than they actually do. Business leaders say an average of 37 applications are in use at their companies, but WalkMe puts the real number at 625, a difference by a factor of 17. And, employees are still often frustrated by technology, reporting an average of 36 working days wasted each year because of technical issues.

Not surprisingly, executives tend to look at things from 30,000 feet as opposed to employees, who are preoccupied with developments on the ground. Business leaders focus on using AI for things like improved efficiency and management, while employees are more concerned with day-to-day tasks like training, support and risk mitigation.

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