Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Artificial Intelligence promised to free us from repetitive tasks. However, a new global study on the topic highlights a different reality: rather than working less, employees report being more engaged. The study, "Worklife 2026: The new shape of work," conducted by the Jabra Research Institute, surveyed over 6.000 professionals.
Eighty-five percent of participants reported an increase in workload in at least one area of their daily activities in the past year, while only 35% reported a decrease in some areas.
This increase is particularly marked among heavy AI users. However, there is a positive surprise: contrary to the fear that AI would isolate us behind screens, intensive use of AI is associated with more intense collaboration and stronger team bonds. Among professionals who use it several times a day, 63% say their sense of connection with their team has improved, while only 12% report a deterioration.
Collaboration is also growing: today 64% of heavy AI users work with others more than a year ago, compared to 25% of light users.
The reason is simple: while AI accelerates research, synthesis, and first drafts, human work is shifting toward coordination, shared evaluations, and decisions.
Meetings are therefore becoming increasingly important: 40% spend time in them primarily to resolve critical issues together, and 39% to make decisions. Yet, the AI transformation is not affecting everyone equally. A significant gap is emerging between top management and individual employees without management responsibilities. Thirty percent of executives use it extensively, compared to just 8% of employees. This gap is also reflected in the intensity with which work is evolving: 47% of executives report significant or radical changes in the last year, compared to 18% of individual employees.
Training shows a similar pattern: 64% of individual employees have received no AI training or only a brief introduction, compared to 26% of managers. Managers can play a key role in bridging this gap. When employees perceive their manager as AI-savvy, daily use of the tools stands at 65%, compared to 27% of those without such support. This means that the percentage of those who use AI on a daily basis is 2,4 times higher if their manager is AI-savvy. Optimism for their own career growth is also significantly higher among workers who perceive their manager as AI-savvy, with a score of 8,3 out of 10 compared to 5,5 among those who do not share this perception. Yet, only 27% of professionals consider their direct manager very or extremely AI-savvy.
Calum MacDougall, president of Jabra, says: “The winning companies of the future will be those that are most successful in implementing AI. And winning this journey depends on leaders who listen and engage with their teams to fully understand what they need to work productively with AI.”
Another finding emerges from the research: those who interact with AI via voice, rather than just typing, feel better. Employees who regularly speak to AI report higher levels of well-being than those who simply type: they are 24% less likely to feel stressed, 23% less likely to feel exhausted, and 37% more likely to perceive their workplace as safe. This approach is more widespread when the right organizational conditions are in place. Professionals who regularly speak to AI are more likely to receive hands-on training, view their managers as competent sources of support, and operate within structured processes for modern collaboration. Technology also plays a crucial role: employees equipped with professional audio and video hardware designed for conversational AI are approximately 40% more likely to regularly use voice to interact with it in their daily work.
The percentage of workers using voice commands to interact with AI can therefore be an important indicator of a company's level of future-proofing. Calum MacDougall argues that "we all talk to colleagues. Interacting vocally with virtual assistants is a natural extension of our work methods: when we can simply communicate and work within the flow of tasks, AI becomes a strategic ally and a valuable collaborator. Companies that make this communication between humans and AI seamless and secure will achieve the best returns on their investments in technology."
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