Most employees are willing to work alongside artificial intelligence agents but draw the line at being managed by them, according to new research from Workday Inc.
The study of nearly 3,000 decision-makers found 75 per cent of workers are comfortable teaming up with AI agents, but only 30 per cent would accept an AI agent as their manager, the California-based company said Monday.
“We’re entering a new era of work where AI can be an incredible partner, and a complement to human judgement, leadership, and empathy,” said Kathy Pham, vice president of AI at Workday. “Building trust means being intentional in how AI is used and keeping people at the center of every decision.”
Workplace boundaries emerge
The findings reveal clear limits on how employees want AI integrated into their work lives, according to the report titled “AI Agents Are Here—But Don’t Call Them Boss.”
Only 24 per cent of workers are comfortable with AI agents operating in the background without human knowledge, the research found. The study surveyed workers across North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe between May and June.
Despite these boundaries, 82 per cent of organizations are expanding their use of AI agents, according to the company.
Experience builds confidence
Workers who have more exposure to AI agents show greater trust in the technology, the study found.
Among those just exploring AI agents, only 36 per cent trust their organization to use them responsibly. That number jumps to 95 per cent among workers with more experience using the technology, according to Workday.
However, more than one-quarter of respondents still believe AI agents are overhyped, the research found.
Productivity concerns persist
Nearly 90 per cent of employees believe AI agents will help them accomplish more work, but many worry about the consequences, the study found.
Almost half of workers are concerned that productivity gains will lead to increased pressure and a decline in critical thinking. Another 36 per cent worry about reduced human interaction, according to the research.
Task-specific trust levels
Workers show varying levels of comfort with AI agents depending on the task, the study found.
Trust is highest for IT support and skills development, but lowest for sensitive areas including hiring, finance and legal matters, according to the company.
Finance sector shows optimism
Finance workers are particularly receptive to AI agents, with 76 per cent believing the technology will help address staffing shortages in their field, the research found.
Only 12 per cent of finance workers worry about job loss from AI agents. The top uses for AI in finance include forecasting and budgeting, financial reporting and fraud detection, according to Workday.
The research was conducted by Hanover Research and commissioned by Workday, which provides human resources and financial management software to more than 11,000 organizations worldwide.
