The adoption of artificial intelligence tools has delivered a bounty of benefits in the workplace, but a new report is warning that it is also "slowly eroding" social connections at work.

Findings from Workday's latest global research revealed that AI is delivering various gains, particularly on increasing productivity and employee confidence.

It is also reducing burnout at work, with 62% of employees saying their stress and burnout risk have declined since using AI tools.

Eroding workplace moments

The report attributed these benefits to AI's ability at "removing friction," a capability that it warned is also unintentionally impacting social connections at work.

"Albeit unintentionally, people are using AI to smooth out other areas of friction, too. Brainstorming with coworkers. Asking a colleague for advice. Working through disagreements," the report read.

"Quintessential moments of workplace connection happen inside those small frictions. They're the texture of working with other people. And they open up opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, learning, innovation, and more."

But people are replacing these moments by interacting with AI, which is perceived as faster, easier, and more available.

According to the findings, 76% of employees are now getting advice from AI. More than half (52%) are also using it to brainstorm. Others are using the technology to:

• Seek companionship (37%)
• Ask for career mentorship (31%)
• Prepare for a difficult conversation (20%)

"As AI answers more of the questions employees used to turn to colleagues to help answer, the small moments that have helped build trust inside organisations are becoming optional rather than automatic," the report read.

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