Jabra research

Great
ExpectAItions

Work in the age of AI

Welcome to work in the age of AI

AI technologies are creating a seismic shift within the workplace, fundamentally transforming how we communicate, collaborate and connect with both knowledge and each other.

As we grapple with work location habits, engagement, generational divides, macro-economic climates and higher rates of stress and burnout, everybody is leaning into AI as the silver bullet to all issues.

But if we’re honest, AI is moving so fast it’s almost impossible to keep up. Businesses are not just grappling with how to adopt radically new tools; they’re having to reimagine well-established workflows.

It's hard. And no one wants to admit that they don’t know about AI.

How we access information, what we do with it when we have it, where we focus (and where we don’t): workers and leaders alike are taking a giant leap into the unknown. These changes present exciting opportunities, but also a healthy number of challenges.

With so many unknowns about AI and where it’s taking us, Jabra is taking a closer look AI adoption across the workforce, both now and into the future. We surveyed a total of 5700 people across 13 different countries to find out how workers feel about AI, what they want from it, how they plan to use it and where there might be gaps in expectations.

By understanding these factors, we’re hopeful that organizations can make informed decisions to invest in solutions that actually make a difference.

Ultimately, this report aims to provide insights that empower businesses to navigate the complexities of AI integration while fostering a more engaged and resilient workforce.

After all, things are moving so fast that today’s expert will be tomorrow’s Luddite, and we’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Key insights

1 People are excited about AI, but adoption is low.
2 Gen Z and Millennials are driving the AI revolution.
3 AI decision makers don’t fit the typical technology leader profile.
4 Our gateway to AI will be voice
5 People want AI to free up more time for creativity, innovation and strategy.
6 AI really isn’t going to steal our jobs.
7To sleep or work more with our reclaimed time? That is the question.

01 People are excited about AI, but adoption is low.

While enthusiasm for AI is high, our data shows that actual usage among knowledge workers is low. Contrary to the widespread perception that AI is everywhere, our survey showed that while many want to embrace AI, we are still figuring out how to make it work in practice. So, while trust and optimism towards AI is high, we’re not yet sure how to make AI work for, well, work.

02 Gen Z and Millennials are driving the AI revolution.

Gen Z and Millennials are the key drivers of AI adoption, leading the way in both awareness and usage. Boomers lag significantly behind in their understanding of and optimism towards AI technologies. This gap underscores the need for effective leadership and training to bridge the divide. To not do so risks having a two-tier workforce: the AI haves and have nots.

03 AI decision makers don’t fit the typical technology leader profile.

A significant proportion of AI decision makers are young (aged less than 39), do not come from IT backgrounds or technology industries. Almost 80% are not in the C-Suite. This is a job that requires broader alignment and buy-in, and yet it appears that those making the decisions on AI implementation in organizations do not come from the same traditional departments tasked with other technology decisions.

04 Our gateway to AI will be voice

Almost twice as many people want to speak with generative AI, rather than typing prompts. This figure grows with seniority (and perceived busyness). As agentic AI is on the rise, and tools like Copilot grow in popularity, the preference for voice is clear. This insight reflects a clear preference for AI to function as a real-time assistant to minimise the impact of ‘busy work’, so that we can get on with the tasks that matter.

Our gateway to AI will be voice illustration

05 People want AI to free up more time for creativity, innovation and strategy.

In an era characterized by "Digital Debt," the ability to focus and maintain mental clarity is increasingly compromised. In fact, just 23% of the knowledge workers we asked spend any time on creative or innovation tasks or making strategic decisions for the company. People are keen for AI to shift this balance, removing the burden of ‘busy work’ so that they can focus on tasks that influence a business’ bottom line.

06 AI really isn’t going to steal our jobs.

While around 1/3 of respondents are concerned that AI will replace them, only 1 in 10 of businesses have any plans to reduce the workforce. Rather, businesses plan to focus on upskilling employees to ensure AI enhances rather than replaces human roles.

07To sleep or work more with our reclaimed time? That is the question.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on about AI, it’s the promise of more time. However, our survey reveals that how we plan to use that time varies significantly. While knowledge workers are looking to reclaim time to dedicate to themselves, decision makers plan to increase output and productivity. This disconnect raises important questions about managing expectations in an AI-driven future: just because technology enables greater efficiency, it doesn't mean employees have an infinite capacity (or desire!) to take on more work.