Good morning. AI agents are promoted as the future of work, but while employees adapt to the idea, most aren’t comfortable reporting to a digital boss.
Nearly half (48%) of respondents are concerned that AI agents will increase pressure on employees to work faster. The findings are based on a survey of 2,950 full-time decision makers and software implementation leaders across North America, APAC, and EMEA.
Trust appears to be the elephant in the room. More than 25% of respondents believe AI agents are overhyped.
“Building trust means being intentional in how AI is used and keeping people at the center of every decision,” according to Kathy Pham, vice president of AI at Workday.
The research found that trust in agents rises with greater use: only 36% of those just exploring AI agents trust their organizations to use them responsibly, compared with 95% among those further along the adoption curve.
Workday’s research also revealed that, with the industry facing a shortage of CPAs and finance professionals, 76% of finance workers believe AI agents will help fill the gap, and only 12% are worried about job loss. Top uses for AI agents in finance include forecasting and budgeting (32%), financial reporting (32%), and fraud detection (30%). Gen Z is especially bullish—70% are interested in working for companies that invest in AI agents.
The report recommends the following for leaders: refine performance through human ingenuity, prioritize tools and training, and design roles that unlock purpose—not just productivity.
Will employees ever be comfortable calling an AI agent their boss? In my opinion, when it comes to AI, never say never.
Have a good weekend.
