G-P (Globalization Partners)‘s third annual AI at Work Report has found that while AI remains a hugely transformative force the market has moved from experimental wonder to a high-stakes reckoning. Despite 100 per cent of surveyed executives reporting AI usage, nearly 70 per cent of executives are prepared to scale back AI budgets if goals aren’t met this year.
“To get AI right, you have to move past the hype and focus on where it actually moves the needle,” said Nat Natarajan, Chief Operating Officer, G-P. “A smart strategy isn’t about doing everything at once, it’s about identifying high-impact use cases and preparing your team before you start. That foundation is what separates companies stuck in a loop of endless pilots from those that actually achieve real, transformative results.”
Last year, executives leaned into AI with excitement with an emphasis on rapid adoption and experimentation. Now, the share of global executives who describe their organisations as aggressively using AI to innovate has fallen from 60 per cent to 42 per cent. With 73 per cent of executives reporting at least some of their AI investments fell short of expectations over the past 12 months, this year’s report outlines the shifting realities as the market now demands tangible, ethical and accurate ROI:
- The “bubble” split:Globally, executives are divided on whether the bubble will burst this year, but 69 per cent of US HR executives view AI as a long-term structural shift, highlighting that their function sees this as an integral part of the future of work.
- Rethinking the human value:82 per cent of executives admit AI has lowered the value they place on human employees, a trend G-P warns could jeopardise the very human-led innovation required to make AI successful.
- Productivity paranoia:88 per cent of executives are concerned employees are using AI to “perform productivity” – appearing busy and meeting AI usage mandates without generating real business value. Nearly half (47 per cent) are very or extremely concerned this is already happening.
- Micromanaging the machines:69 per cent of executives report the time employees spend monitoring, reviewing or updating work performed by AI has increased over the past year. This suggests a hidden tax on AI adoption potentially offsetting the very efficiency gains the technology promised.
- The borderless talent solution:82 per cent of global executives would hire in a country where they don’t have existing employees to secure top AI talent. Companies are now prioritising specialised AI literacy over local presence, turning the search for expertise into a global race.
“AI is increasingly being measured by trust, accountability and business impact,” commented Pete A. Tiliakos, Principal Analyst, Strategic Advisor, GxT Advisors. “For global employers, that means focusing AI on navigating complexity, reducing risk, enabling better decisions, and expanding access to talent across borders. The future belongs to companies that pair AI with the right expertise, governance and operational discipline to turn opportunity into real business outcomes.”
The 2026 AI at Work report is based on insights from 2,850 leaders across six global markets. Download the full report here.
