New research reveals a stark divide in AI’s workplace impact. CEOs claim substantial efficiency gains. Workers largely disagree.

About 50% of chief executives say AI frees up significant hours on the job, according to a report from Best Companies Group. Among employees using the same technology, 67% report minimal or zero time savings. Nearly 60% add that learning AI tools consumes more time than sticking with old methods.

“The technology isn’t the variable. The implementation is,” said Jaime Raul Zepeda, executive vice president and principal consultant at Best Companies Group. His firm has assisted over 10,000 companies in enhancing employee engagement through data strategies.

Only 25% of workers receive formal training from employers on these tools. Meanwhile, 41% have spent close to two hours fixing flawed AI outputs. Companies that pair AI deployment with thorough training and workflow integration see genuine productivity boosts, the report states.

Even when time savings occur, workers often fill the void with extra tasks. They multitask more and switch between jobs frequently. Studies link this behavior to lower overall output, though it goes unnoticed in metrics focused on tool adoption rates.

Workplace loneliness compounds the issue. Over half of U.S. workers now feel isolated on the job. AI’s push for individual task optimization erodes casual interactions—the quick chats that provide context, group problem-solving sessions and trust-building exchanges.

Lonely employees miss more workdays. They quit at twice the rate of connected peers. Workers who feel managers understand them are more than twice as likely to report high energy levels, the analysis found.

“Connection isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s infrastructure,” Zepeda said. Successful AI adopters make deliberate choices: mandatory training, tools that augment human skills rather than supplant them, and efforts to preserve relationships amid changes.

These firms prioritize people over pure speed. They measure real outcomes, not just usage stats. The report urges leaders to rethink AI strategies to avoid dismantling what sustains high performance.

Zepeda warns that current trends risk a deeper loneliness crisis. “We’re trading human moments for speed,” he said. Half of American workers already report isolation, a figure tied directly to tech-driven shifts.

Organizations excelling with AI align tools to existing processes. They invest in capability-building as heavily as software purchases. Results show happier, more productive teams when technology supports judgment, not replaces it.

The path forward hinges on intentional design. Leaders can opt for isolation via hasty rollouts. Or they can build sustainable workplaces by focusing on training and ties that bind teams.

AI holds promise for better work. Evidence proves it thrives with human-centered implementation. Without that, gains evaporate, frustration mounts and turnover spikes.

Best Companies Group draws from broad data to spotlight these patterns. Their work highlights a simple truth: productivity without connection crumbles.