Report: Workers Are Ready for AI. Organizations Aren’t. 

Despite widespread concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, new research reveals a striking insight: Workers overwhelmingly believe AI will improve their jobs, even as they expect it to shrink their organizations’ workforces. 

This optimism presents a powerful opportunity—but only for companies prepared to act. While employees are ready to embrace AI’s benefits, research from The Conference Board shows that many organizations still lack a clear, unified AI vision tied to business priorities. Unlocking AI’s full potential will require a comprehensive transformation across strategy, culture, governance, and operating models. 

“AI is reshaping work at extraordinary speed. Workers are largely energized by AI’s possibilities, but organizations must rethink how they operate or risk missing the broader value AI can deliver,” said Matt Rosenbaum, Principal Researcher, Human Capital Center, The Conference Board. 

These findings draw on global surveys of more than 900 leaders and workers, as well as 26 interviews with enterprise executives. Findings include: 

Workers expect AI to improve their jobs—even if employment declines. 

• The vast majority of workers (85%) expect AI to improve their jobs over the next two years, even among those who believe AI will reduce employment at their organizations. 

• 42% of workers expect AI to decrease employment at their organization. 40% of leaders surveyed also expect employment to decrease. 

• 91% of workers say AI has already changed their tasks, and most report increases in both productivity (87%) and job satisfaction (57%). 

“Workers are telling us something leaders need to hear: They believe AI will make work better,” said Erka Amursi, Principal Researcher, Human Capital, The Conference Board. “This optimism offers organizations a powerful foundation for building engagement, trust, and readiness for change.”