AI at work: Why it’s helping the boss more than the rest of us

Ever since artificial intelligence began weaving its way into our daily workflows — especially after the 2022 ChatGPT launch — the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) will replace or empower humans has become the never-ending debate.

While some tech leaders claim AI is here to save time and elevate creativity, others argue it’s quietly widening the divide between decision-makers and doers. Both could be right, depending on where you sit in the corporate food chain.

A new wave of reports is revealing a fascinating truth. AI isn’t levelling the playing field at work. It’s reshaping it, and not always in the way we expect.

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Executives love AI, employees aren’t convinced

The Wall Street Journal reported citing research from the AI consulting firm Section, there’s a glaring gap between how senior executives and everyday workers experience AI.

The survey, which covered 5,000 white-collar professionals, found that two-thirds of non-management employees saved less than two hours a week, or no time at all, using AI tools. Over 40 per cent executives, on the other hand, reported AI saved them over eight hours of work per week.

That’s an entire day’s worth of tasks automated away, but for leaders, not for the led.

The study paints a clear picture, while AI is already helping the C-suite polish presentations, crunch data and write reports faster, the average worker is often stuck figuring out how to use it effectively. And sometimes, they’re spending as much time fixing AI-generated content as they would have spent writing it from scratch.

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Another study, from business software giant Workday, calls this frustration an “AI tax”. Out of roughly 1,600 employees surveyed, 85 per cent said AI saved them between one and seven hours a week, but much of that was wiped out by the time they spent correcting mistakes or reworking flawed outputs.

Does AI really boost productivity?

AI is often billed as a productivity booster, but in reality, it could be a time-neutral tool, especially where accuracy matters. For writers, analysts and junior staff, AI can feel less like a personal assistant and more like a promising intern who needs constant supervision.

The emotional toll is also striking. Section’s survey found that workers were more anxious or overwhelmed about AI than excited, a feeling completely flipped among senior executives. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents even said they would be happy never using AI again.

Meanwhile, CEOs at the World Economic Forum in Davos this month admitted that, financially, the payoff isn’t as big as advertised.

This sits perfectly with PwC survey of 4,454 chief executives across 95 countries and territories between late 2024 and November 2025. The findings show that more than half of business leaders, 56 per cent, have yet to see any financial gains from AI, whether in revenue or cost savings.

Some companies did report selective benefits. About one-third said AI had boosted their revenue in the past year, while 26 per cent credited it with lowering operational costs. However, only 12 per cent of CEOs said AI had achieved both goals simultaneously, underscoring that while adoption is widespread, tangible success remains concentrated among a relatively small group of firms.

It’s uneven, but who does really benefit from AI at work?

So, what’s really happening? AI seems to benefit people who already have control over time, resources, and decisions. Executives can use generative AI for big-picture strategy, market summaries, or drafting complex communications. But for workers buried under daily tasks, the same technology often creates extra steps, including reviewing, editing, and ensuring compliance.

That difference might not sound like much, but it subtly shapes who gains from the AI revolution. The higher up you are, the more AI becomes an amplifier, a multiplier of output and influence. For everyone else, it’s another tool to manage, learn, and justify.

And while many companies insist that AI adoption won’t replace humans, the recent wave of layoffs across Google, Meta, Microsoft, and more suggest otherwise. Officially, they’re called “restructurings”. Unofficially, AI automation plays a quiet, growing role.

The irony is that the very technology meant to democratise productivity might be reinforcing old hierarchies. AI isn’t replacing everyone, it’s rewarding those who already know how to delegate.

For now, workers are still figuring out how to make AI genuinely useful rather than just an office buzzword, studies and surveys show. They also make one thing clear, whether you’re writing software codes, managing teams or sending e-mails to the board, the benefits of AI depend less on what it can do, and more on who gets to use it best.