The integration of AI and other technology is seen as critical to maximizing workplace productivity in the coming year, despite hiccups in implementing the latest tools and feelings among some that more tech does not necessarily make for a more productive workforce.

Still, there is a sense of urgency around getting AI up to speed in order to boost productivity. “HR can’t afford to ignore AI any longer, and if they do, entire departments will risk losing out on the best talent and even future organizational growth,” said Corwin Schroeder, global head of talent acquisition at financial data software company insightsoftware.

Meanwhile, Amy Reichanadter, chief people officer at the data and AI company Databricks, warns that “teams that have been in wait-and-see mode on implementing AI will begin to feel left behind because they have not developed and implemented a working strategy for how AI can improve their work.”

Yet despite the push for AI adoption, challenges persist in regard to implementing the tech. According to executive coaching firm Vistage’s Q3 CEO Confidence Index, while 75% of organizations currently use AI in some form, just one-third have trained their people on it, creating an enormous barrier to productivity.

The training gap

The gap between implementation and training is creating noticeable friction in the workplace. While 96% of C-suite executives expect AI tools to enhance productivity, 77% of employees using AI say they have a greater workload and nearly half are unsure how to achieve promised gains, according to Kelly Monahan, managing director and head of The Upwork Research Institute.

The solution, according to experts, lies not just in training but buy-in among the rank and file — something HR leaders have a role in promoting.

“The power of generative AI is only as strong as the workforce’s ability and willingness to use it,” said Jill Goldstein, global managing partner of HR & Talent Transformation at IBM Consulting. “CHROs must champion training and reskilling initiatives that increase the technical acumen of the workforce, which includes providing employees with opportunities to experiment with AI and take calculated risks within a safe framework.”

Organizational readiness is also essential.

Stacey Walker, senior vp and CHRO at tech company Fortive, emphasized that AI can only help insofar as the company employing it is functional. “Organizations need well-established workflows for these technologies to be effective,” she said. “Lack of learning, experimentation and support for employees to apply AI tools to their work can also impede adoption and productivity.”

David Radin, CEO of HR consultancy Confirmed and author of “Time Management in the Age of AI,” advocates for a measured approach to tech implementation. “The name of the game in 2025 for productivity is being able to use the innovations in AI which are coming at us at a rapid pace without losing the core benefits of the methodologies that have served us so well in recent years,” he said.

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