Survey: Over 80% of workers believe AI will enhance human creativity

Over 80% of global workers believe AI will both elevate the importance of uniquely human skills and enhance human creativity, leading to new forms of economic value, according to a survey by Workday. 

The global study “Elevating Human Potential: The AI Skills Revolution”, a survey commissioned by Workday and fielded by Hanover Research in November and December 2024, encompassed 2,500 full-time workers from a variety of industries across 22 countries spanning North America; Asia-Pacific (APAC); and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). 

Among several possible scenarios of AI’s influence, the leading response (53%) in the global study was "AI will augment human capabilities, leading to increased productivity and new forms of innovation".

Although there are societal concerns about AI damaging trust, 90% of workers agree AI can play a significant role in increasing transparency and accountability in organisations, with leaders (92%) and employees (89%) closely aligned, according to the survey. 

The data shows a growing positive sentiment around the adoption of AI in the workplace, with earlier Workday-commissioned research on AI finding only 52% of workers welcomed AI in their workplace at this time last year. 

Of those actively utilising AI, nearly all (93%) agree that AI allows them to focus on higher-level responsibilities such as strategy and problem-solving, according to the survey.  

Furthermore, active AI users consistently have positive perceptions of its benefits, with 92% of employees and 95% of leaders in agreement. These findings highlight the transformative potential AI can have in the workplace by helping to free up human capacity for meaningful and innovative collaboration, which will unlock new ideas and opportunities for businesses to adapt and grow in a rapidly shifting economy. 

Ensuring transparency and accountability

The data also reveals there is a widespread expectation, with 54% agreeing that the technology sector will lead efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in AI integration. However, the shared responsibility attributed to individual organisations (12%) and governments (12%) reflects a broader sentiment that gaining trust in AI requires collaboration across sectors. 

Meanwhile, 81% of participants in the study recognise that AI is changing the skills required for their jobs. The top three uses of AI today include data analysis (51%), fraud detection and security monitoring (43%), and HR and recruiting (39%). 

A stark disparity is emerging between employees and leaders regarding the essential need for human connection in the workplace. While 82% of individual contributors believe the craving for human interaction will only intensify as AI usage increases, 65% of managers share this view, according to the survey. 

When asked how AI adoption will impact leadership and management priorities, respondents identified three key areas: enhancing data-driven decision-making, prioritising upskilling and learning to use AI technology, and reallocating resources to more critical areas as AI automates routine work. The equal weighting across these responses underscores AI's potential to assist leaders in each of these critical areas, freeing them to focus on cultivating empathy and deeper connections within their teams. 

"The conversation around AI often focuses on fear and job loss, but we see it as an incredible opportunity," said Jim Stratton, chief technology officer, Workday. "By embracing AI for good, we can elevate what makes us uniquely human – our creativity, our empathy, our ability to connect – and build a workplace where these skills drive success. Our research shows that workers are ready to embrace this possibility as reality."

"AI is driving us towards a future where we can harness our innate human skills to connect, create, and innovate," said Sadie Bell, VP of people systems, HPE. "This isn't just about efficiency and problem-solving; it's about unlocking our potential to build a future that prioritises skills like empathy, ingenuity, and our shared humanity."

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