Driving efficiency or driving workers toward burnout? How AI is being used

Many businesses appear more focused on building an efficient workforce than an empowered one, and artificial intelligence is being used in ways that are overwhelming many employees.

Those are some of the findings from management consulting firm Korn Ferry’s survey of more than 16,000 employees for the Workforce 2026 Global Insights Report.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) said their company is more focused on driving efficiencies than exploring new ways to add value — both of which are potential strengths of AI and related technologies. While 63% said that AI has increased their efficiency, 52% said that AI tools have increased the number of tasks expected in their role.

Sixty-two percent said their workload has increased significantly in the last two years, 61% feel they’re performing the responsibilities of more than one role, and 49% said they’re exhausted by the pace of change at their organization.

“Can we sustain people feeling like they’re permanently working two jobs?” Jenna Young of Korn Ferry asked. “Will you keep your highest performers? Will you see the quality of work that sets a company apart? Not for long.”

While nearly 3 in 5 (58%) said they are appropriately rewarded for taking on additional roles, 45% described themselves as “too busy to deliver meaningful results,” and 39% said that a lack of managers at their company has left them feeling directionless.

Korn Ferry asked respondents to consider what factors were important to them when facing career decisions. Eighty percent said “the work itself” was important when considering a new job.

“Being able to connect to something bigger than yourself — that feeling of caring about the company mission and the impact of your work, that’s the fuel that drives ROI,” Young said.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Bryan Strickland at Bryan.Strickland@aicpa-cima.com.