AI in the enterprise: a lot of trust, little practice. The great gap between managers and employees

Confidence in artificial intelligence within companies is growing, but its effective adoption remains limited. This is the paradox that emerges from an international research commissioned by Jabra, conducted on over six thousand people, including decision makers and employees in various countries.

The study shows that the majority of executives show enthusiasm for AI – 85% say they are strongly interested and 84% recognize its potential – but few manage to translate this confidence into strategy concrete. 82% admit that they have not yet understood how to apply it effectively to improve work efficiency.

Optimism is not enough

The analysis highlights a growing contradiction: on the one hand, AI is seen as a lever of innovation and on the other its integration into daily activities is still episodic. Many managers, despite recognizing the value of technology, remain unsure how to introduce it consistently in business processes. The result is a stalemate, in which there is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence but little action is taken.

Only a quarter of workers actually use it

Despite the widespread perception that AI is already a stable presence in the workplace, the numbers tell a different story: just 27% of employees declare that they use it in their jobs, a share that is almost identical to those who use it in their private lives. Most, therefore, remain on the margins of a technological change that proceeds more in declarations than in facts.

Without a clear strategy and effective internal communication, the gap between management enthusiasm and actual workforce adoption risks widening further, reducing the impact of innovation on productivity.

The crux of training

The research also shows that, although many employees and managers declare themselves ready to collaborate with AI systems, there is still a lack of structured training and refresher courses. Without a specific investment in skills, the use of technology remains fragmentary and inhomogeneous.

The conscious adoption of AI, underline the authors of the study, will depend on the ability of companies to move from enthusiasm to practice: building a shared digital culture, defining realistic objectives and offering concrete tools for integrate artificial intelligence in everyday activities.

Otherwise, the risk is that of “AI-washing”: talking about innovation without actually being able to put it to work.