AI Saves Time: Executives Agree, Employees Disagree

I believe AI is a productivity tool because recent studies reveal significant disparities in its perceived effectiveness between executives and employees.

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This guide covers the following key attributes: the effectiveness of AI in various industries, employee sentiment towards AI, discrepancies in productivity claims, and future implications of AI technology.

What Do Recent Studies Reveal About AI and Productivity?

A recent survey from AI consulting firm Section surveyed 5,000 white-collar employees. The findings indicate a major disparity between workers and their managers regarding AI and productivity.

Among company executives, 33 percent reported that AI saved them between 4 to 8 hours per week. Additionally, 19 percent claimed to save over 12 hours weekly, while only 2 percent stated AI did not save them any time.

• 33% of executives save 4-8 hours weekly.
• 19% save over 12 hours weekly.
• Only 2% claim no time savings from AI.

How Do Non-Managerial Employees View AI?

In stark contrast, non-managerial employees expressed skepticism about AI’s benefits. A staggering 40 percent indicated that AI did not save them any time at all. Furthermore, 27 percent reported saving less than 2 hours weekly, while only 2 percent claimed to save more than 12 hours.

This disparity highlights a significant gap in perception between different levels of the workforce.

What Do Other Reports Say About AI’s Effectiveness?

Another report from software company Workday suggests that even the optimistic estimates regarding AI’s time-saving capabilities may be exaggerated. According to the Wall Street Journal, 85 percent of employees who reported time savings were actually spending that time correcting errors made by AI.

Which Industries Benefit Most from AI?

The technology sector has embraced AI the most, with software developers utilizing it to expedite monotonous coding tasks, despite potential coding errors. However, other industries, such as retail, have not experienced similar benefits, ranking lowest in AI effectiveness.

Overall, 85 percent of respondents reported either no work-related AI use cases or only beginner-level applications. Additionally, 40 percent of workers indicated they would prefer never to use AI again.

What Are the Implications of AI’s Reception?

These findings echo a warning from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who emphasized the need for AI benefits to reach average users. He cautioned that without tangible improvements in health, education, and efficiency, the social permission for AI adoption may diminish.

As of 2026, these reports from Section and Workday suggest that the perceived value of AI is rapidly declining, raising concerns for companies heavily invested in AI technologies.