AI trends to watch EY Work Reimagined Survey

Employers risk leaving significant productivity value on the table because employees are not yet receiving the level of artificial intelligence (AI) training and access required to unlock the full benefits of new technologies, according to the latest EY Work Reimagined Survey.

While Generative AI adoption is widespread, and its growth in little more than three years is staggering, impact remains limited. The global survey of 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers across 29 countries, including Ireland, shows that well over one third of employees surveyed (37%) use AI at work daily, while 88% use AI at work to some degree, yet usage is largely confined to basic tasks such as search (54%) and summarisation (38%). Only 5% of employee respondents globally are using AI in advanced ways, such as automating multi?step tasks, generating insights or redesigning how work is delivered – showing a critical disconnect between AI capability and potential, and the human readiness to use it. Organisations that combine effective AI deployment with strong talent strategies can unlock up to 40% more productivity, but most are falling short.

AI trends to watch EY Work Reimagined Survey

In Ireland specifically, the opportunity cost is particularly clear. The research found that employees who receive 81 or more hours of AI training annually reclaim 13 hours per week, more than double the gain for those with 40 hours or less of training, who reclaim six hours a week. At the same time, 65% of Irish employers believe AI adoption is a net positive for employee productivity, highlighting a growing gap between ambition and readiness.

As more and more businesses continue to adopt AI in their daily operations, the survey uncovered a range of anxieties over the trend contributing to a value gap between the investment in AI and the productivity delivered.

Thirty-seven percent of employees globally worry that overreliance on AI could erode their skills and expertise, while 64% perceive an increase in their workloads due to pressure to perform. Yet only 12% are receiving sufficient AI training to unlock the full productivity benefits.

Furthermore, despite attempts by employers to offer internal tools, shadow AI is still prevalent; between 23%-58% of employees surveyed across various sectors globally are bringing their own AI solutions to work. While this demonstrates that many employees are ahead of their employers in terms of the value that AI can bring, there are significant data security and cyber security impacts emerging from this.

The survey highlights a critical disconnect; when AI adoption and new technology land on fragile talent foundations – weak culture, ineffective learning and misaligned rewards – the potential benefits of AI are significantly diminished. Organisations that effectively integrate talent and technology – what the research calls ‘talent advantage’ – unlock greater value, yet only 28% are on track to achieve this, according to the research.

Laura Flynn, Head of People Consulting at EY Ireland, said:

“AI is everywhere and its impact can be tremendous but to date most organisations have not tapped into its full potential, held back by a gap between ambition, adoption and human readiness. Our research finds that almost all workers now use AI to some degree, yet only a small fraction are using it to genuinely transform how they work, while concerns around job security, skill erosion and rising workloads are creating resistance.

“At the same time however we are finding that employees can clearly see the benefit of AI to aid their work, and if their employer hasn’t provided them with the tools, they will use them surreptitiously, what is known as Shadow AI. While this demonstrates that many employees are willing to adopt AI, there are significant data security and cyber security impacts emerging from this. Bridging the gap between talent and technology is key.

“When organisations master both, AI helps deliver outsized results, but neglecting the human side can erode those gains. The stakes are rising; organisations that build strong talent foundations will be the ones who benefit most as AI accelerates.”

Eoin O’Reilly, Head of AI & Data at EY Ireland, said: “Many organisations are still experimenting with AI at the edges, focusing on isolated productivity gains. This approach is unlikely to move the dial on core business outcomes such as revenue growth or cost transformation. The real value comes when companies rethink how their business actually operates with AI in mind. Right now, there is a growing gap between the level of AI investment and the value being realised, and closing it means rethinking how work gets done, and matching this with the right tools. We see that AI capability often develops unevenly across different parts of a business, which is why clear leadership direction is essential to turn widespread AI experimentation into real business value.”

The importance of learning and culture

Global talent health – a key indicator of employees as “net promoters” – rose by 10 points year-on-year, moving from 55 to 65 on a 0–100 index (an 18% lift), reflecting greater satisfaction with rewards, development and culture. This improvement coincides with a reduction in quit intent to 29%, the lowest reported level in four years, compared to a peak of 43% during the “Great Resignation” in 2021.

In a cooling job market, employees are hunkering down. However, when it comes to AI, the picture is different. Leadership plays a vital role in fostering a supportive culture for adoption and continuous learning, which is essential for maintaining talent health. Leaders who care, trust and empower their teams set the tone for culture, driving 44% of talent health.

The survey also reveals that while investing in employee upskilling drives transformation, it also presents retention challenges. Employees receiving over 81 hours of annual AI training report an average productivity gain of 14 hours per week – well above the median of eight hours. However, these employees are also 55% more likely to leave their organisation, as AI talent is highly sought after and external opportunities outweigh internal promotion cycles. Employers can mitigate retention challenges by offering comprehensive total rewards, including access to technology, flexibility and career opportunities that leverage AI skills.

Talent advantage matters

The report highlights tensions between human factors and AI integration in five key areas: AI adoption excellence, learning, talent health, organisational culture and reward structures. Organisations excelling in these areas achieve a “talent advantage” and unlock transformational value from AI.

Laura Flynn said: “AI is advancing fast, but people’s ability to use it is not keeping pace. Adoption alone does not deliver value, but capability does. Our findings show that organisations need to prioritise the human foundations of AI if they want to move from experimentation to impact. The companies that invest in skills, culture and talent health will be the ones who actually realise the productivity gains that AI promises. It’s about creating the right conditions for people and technology to thrive together.”

About the EY Work Reimagined Survey

EY conducted the sixth instalment of the Work Reimagined Survey in Quarter 3 2025 to better understand the continued changes in global talent dynamics, AI adoption and work culture. The research included a survey of 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers from organisations with 1,000 or more global employees. Respondents represented 19 sectors and 29 countries covering the Americas, Asia-Pacific and EMEIA (Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa).

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

Website: www.ey.com/ie

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