Unlocking the full potential of AI in the workplace

AI adoption is accelerating fast with 42% of companies already using it and another 40% actively experimenting. Yet, this swift implementation comes with significant challenges. As organisations deploy advanced AI systems, they create potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities and face complex regulatory requirements. To move forward with confidence, strong and intentional security strategies are no longer optional - they’re essential to protect both operations and people.  

A clear, company-wide AI strategy is just as critical. Without it, organisations get stuck in pilot mode, unable to scale promising experiments into real impact. The lack of strategic direction doesn’t just stall progress, it puts companies at risk of missing out on AI’s transformative benefits for operational efficiency, competitive advantage, and long-term growth.   

AI’s untapped potential  

In a recent survey conducted by Lucid Software, nearly half (49%) of workers said they use AI to automate repetitive tasks - freeing them to focus on higher-value work instead. Workers also recognise AI’s broader potential, citing improved productivity (62%), seamless integration with existing workflows (41%), cost savings through consolidated tools (40%), and enhanced communication and decision-making (38%) cited as key potential benefits of AI adoption. 

But here’s the disconnect: while decision-making ranks among AI’s top perceived benefits, only 23% of workers use it that way today. Bridging this gap will require a thoughtful, inclusive approach - aligning AI with business objectives and continuously refining its role to maximise its impact.     

The optimism gap  

While there’s broad optimism around AI’s potential, the enthusiasm varies across organisational levels. For instance, 68% of executives believe AI will enhance their job satisfaction, yet this drops to 53% among managers and only 37% among entry-level employees. This disparity highlights a critical challenge: for AI to be successfully implemented, its value must be clear and accessible across the entire organisation. 

Many workers are already using AI for basic tasks, but its deeper potential remains untapped. Only 26% use AI for synthesising ideas or research, and just 19% leverage it for designing diagrams. This suggests that while AI adoption is growing, organisations have yet to integrate it in ways that drive meaningful innovation.

The key to AI's effectiveness lies in its intentional integration - aligning AI with existing workflows to enhance productivity without creating friction. One common misconception is that AI must deliver perfect results for it to be useful. In reality, its greatest strength is in augmenting specific tasks, reducing friction, and freeing teams to focus on what matters most. Organisations that embrace this incremental, purpose-driven approach will be the ones who unlock AI’s true potential. 

Eliminating the barriers to success 

While many companies are taking proactive steps to safeguard their operations and employees, with 88% actively implementing guidelines, this is not being clearly communicated with the wider workforce, leading to confusion and misalignment. For example, only 29% of entry-level employees feel confident their company actually has these rules in place. Combined with concerns around job security (33%), this has resulted in a third of businesses reporting a resistance to change as a top challenge when implementing AI.  

As AI rapidly evolves, the need for ongoing education and training becomes critical. Executives are more likely to seek independent learning opportunities, 39% compared to 13% for entry-level workers. This underscores the need for an intentional, accessible, and continuous AI education framework for all employees. Effective change management strategies that communicate AI's benefits, address concerns empathetically, and involve employees in the transition can build trust and demonstrate that AI complements rather than replaces human effort.  

Building blocks to success 

AI sparks a wide spectrum of emotions in today’s workplace - from excitement to unease.  Even as it enhances productivity and improves decision quality, these advantages are often overshadowed by anxiety, resistance, and a lack of understanding. Addressing this challenge requires leadership to purposefully unify their teams by providing comprehensive support and educational resources focused on effective AI use. Through cultivating collective awareness and equipping personnel with appropriate tools, organisations can fully realise AI’s capabilities and benefits.  

 David Torgerson is VP of Infrastructure and IT at Lucid Software