AI Adoption Creates Tension in Enterprises as C-Suite Executives Seek AI-Forward Companies

60% of C-suite execs are actively seeking new roles at AI-forward companies

Companies are striving to take advantage of AI to improve their workflows and stay competitive. But many are struggling to figure out exactly how to integrate AI into their business. That challenge is leading to tension with employees who are eager to use AI to make their work faster and easier. Also: Want a top engineering job in 2025? Here are the skills you need A new report released this week by generative AI company Writer looks at the disconnect between what companies are able to do with AI and what employees want them to do. Titled "Generative AI Adoption in the Enterprise," the report is based on a survey commissioned by Writer. Conducted by Workplace Intelligence, the survey elicited responses about AI in the workplace from 1,600 knowledge workers in the US, including 800 C-suite executives and 800 employees. Many professionals are seeking jobs that would let them work with generative AI. Among those surveyed, 59% of C-suite executives and 35% of employees said they're actively looking for a new job with a company more innovative with generative AI than their current employer. Expanding on that, 59% of the executives and 45% of the employees said they wouldn't even consider working for a company that isn't using generative AI. Also: Want to win in the age of AI? You can either build it or build your business with it As further evidence of the lure of AI, 97% of the executives and 81% of the employees said that if they were seeking a new job, they'd want one with a company leading and innovating in generative AI. Some 96% of the execs and 84% of the employees also said they'd expect an employer to provide training in the area of generative AI. Businesses that are embracing AI shouldn't have as much trouble retaining employees eager to use it. Around 93% of the executives and 90% of the employees said that they're optimistic about their company's approach to generative AI. The survey respondents also pointed to several reasons why their employer has adopted AI. Revenue opportunity was the top reason, followed by employee interest, and then competitive pressure. Customer demand, a solution to a pain point, and executive ultimatum also made the list. Data analysis and insights was the most popular answer. Customer support, knowledge management, automating complex tasks, and automating repetitive tasks were next in line. Other reasons included content generation, personalized communication, editing and proofreading, brainstorming, and forecasting and decision-making. Also: AI agents aren't just assistants: How they're changing the future of work today Some 97% of the execs and 88% of employees said that they've benefited from generative AI tools. A large number said it gives them more time to focus on strategy. Others said that it offers them the ability to make data-driven decisions more quickly. Some said it allows them more time to explore new business opportunities. Also: Why you should ignore 99% of AI tools - and which four I use every day A smaller number reported that it gives them more time to manage or collaborate with colleagues. And others revealed that it helps them spend less time writing reports and emails or performing administrative tasks. This brings us back to the companies struggling to integrate AI. What challenges and obstacles have companies faced? Many of those surveyed said that the adoption of AI has led to power struggles within their company. Specifically, the move has created tension between IT and other lines of business, as well as between executives and employees. Some say that IT leaders aren't working with employees to adopt AI, that IT isn't delivering real value with generative AI, or that employees have been left to figure out how to use generative AI on their own. Also: 5 ways to use generative AI more safely - and effectively Other challenges have arisen. Some employees don't even know if their company has an AI strategy. Many executives and employees alike believe that their employer hasn't achieved a high ROI (return on investment) with AI despite their promises. At some companies, employees are paying out of pocket for their AI tools because their company doesn't provide the ones they want to use. Also: As AI agents multiply, IT becomes the new HR department At some businesses, the situation has led to a severe disconnect. While many professionals want to use AI, others are averse to it in fear that it might replace them. A small number of employees even admitted to sabotaging their company's AI strategy by making it appear as if the tools are underperforming or generating poor quality. With companies struggling to adopt generative AI, some employees eager to use it, and others afraid of it, how can an organization move forward in this area? The report offers a few tips. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

AI is "tearing apart" companies, survey finds

The big picture: Executives are pushing AI as an inevitable revolution, but workers aren't buying it. Driving the news: Nearly all (94%) C-suite execs surveyed say they're not satisfied with their current AI solution. Stunning stat: 59% of the executives say they're "actively looking for a new job with a company that's more innovative with generative AI." How it works: The study surveyed 800 C-suite executives and 800 employees in December 2024 at enterprise organizations from 100 to over 10,000 employees in industries including technology, financial services, retail and consumer goods, health care, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. Zoom in: Even those C-suite leaders who believe their AI integration is proceeding smoothly are handing down policies and tools to a workforce that is more frustrated than they are. Catch up quick: Workplace tensions have proven tough to resolve, with discontent building at least since the ChatGPT-led AI boom started at the end of 2022. The intrigue: May Habib, CEO of Writer, says the pushback from employees stems both from fear of being replaced by AI and AI tools that aren't suited for the job. Many workers believe that AI is going to change their jobs so much that they're no longer going to be in a job. Asking those employees to embrace AI is like "asking a turkey to vote for Thanksgiving," Habib tells Axios. Yes, but: Even employees who are optimistic about AI's potential still struggle to embrace tools that simply don't work. Habib has little patience with companies that view workplace AI as synonymous with chatbots. The bottom line: C-suite execs tout AI as a competitive necessity and urge workers to get on board -- but broken tools and employees' job fears continue to make the road to AI adoption rocky.

6 in 10 C-level executives are hunting for AI-savvy employers

A recent report by generative AI company Writer reveals that 60% of C-suite executives are actively seeking roles at companies that prioritize generative AI. This trend reflects the broader push by companies to leverage AI for improved workflows amid challenges in integration. The report, titled "Generative AI Adoption in the Enterprise," is based on a survey conducted by Workplace Intelligence involving 1,600 knowledge workers in the U.S., including 800 C-suite executives and 800 employees. A significant number of professionals expressed a desire to work with generative AI, with 59% of executives and 35% of employees actively looking for jobs at more innovative companies in this area. 59% of executives and 45% of employees indicated they would not consider positions at companies that are not utilizing generative AI. The allure of AI is underscored by the fact that 97% of executives and 81% of employees stated they would prefer to work for a company leading in generative AI innovations. Additionally, 96% of executives and 84% of employees expect employers to provide training in generative artificial intelligence. Companies that adopt AI technologies may face fewer challenges in retaining staff eager to utilize these resources. Optimism about their firms' approach to generative AI was high, with 93% of executives and 90% of employees expressing positive views. The survey pointed out several motivations behind AI adoption in businesses, including revenue opportunities, employee interest, and competitive pressure, alongside customer demand and solving specific pain points.

Generative AI Is Creating Power Struggles and 'Tearing Companies Apart,' According to a New Survey

Now, a new report by Writer, a generative AI platform, and independent research firm Workplace Intelligence, examines how the AI race is affecting companies -- and apparently, it's creating a big rift between IT teams, executives, and employees. The 2025 AI Survey: Generative AI Adoption in the Enterprise report surveyed 1,600 workers (800 C-suite executives and 800 employees) in various sectors (technology, financial services, retail and consumer goods, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences) across the U.S. and found that almost 72% of the companies are investing at least $1 million each year in generative AI technology. Related: 'Not Necessarily Super Excited About This': Klarna's CEO Says AI Can Take Over All Jobs, Including His Own However, despite the spending, only one-third of executives reported seeing a significant return on investment. Meanwhile, two out of three executives surveyed said generative AI adoption has led to division between teams, while almost half (42%) reported that adopting AI "is tearing their company apart." "Generative AI holds transformative potential for the enterprise, but it can also create deep rifts within organizations that rely on a patchwork of point solutions or IT-built applications developed in a silo," said May Habib, CEO and co-founder at Writer, in a statement. Still, the survey also found that a majority of employees (at least 9 out of 10) were optimistic about their company's approach to generative AI -- and they're even paying for it on their own. More than one-third of employees (35%) said they pay out-of-pocket for AI tools. Related: No Meetings, Up to $30 Per Hour, Fully Remote: A College Student Training AI Says the Work Is 'Perfect' for Introverts The majority of employees surveyed (81%) and almost all of the C-suite (97%) said if they were looking for a new position, finding a company that uses generative AI is important. "The companies who will lead in the next era of AI adoption are the ones putting the right processes and systems in place today," said Dan Schawbel, managing partner, at Workplace Intelligence. "They're prioritizing their change management efforts, cultivating support for AI among their people, and ensuring they're making the right investment in AI tools." To combat the divisions, Habib suggests adopting a clear, organization-wide approach to AI in the workplace and also choosing a vendor that can provide training to show the best use cases (and embolden employees to use it). View the full report, here. Related: The CEO of $61 Billion Anthropic Says AI Will Take Over a Crucial Part of Software Engineers' Jobs Within a Year