New Workday Global Research: AI Agents Are Here—But Don't Call Them Boss

Workday (NASDAQ: WDAY) has released new global research revealing key insights about AI adoption in the workplace. The study, titled "AI Agents Are Here—But Don't Call Them Boss," shows that while 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI, only 30% would accept being managed by AI agents. The research highlights that 82% of organizations are expanding their use of AI agents, with trust levels increasing significantly with exposure. In the finance sector, 76% of workers believe AI agents will help address professional shortages, with top applications including forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and fraud detection. However, concerns persist about AI implementation, with 48% of employees worried about increased pressure and decline in critical thinking, and 36% concerned about reduced human interaction.

Key Findings

• AI as Co-Pilot, Not Commander: Three out of four employees are highly comfortable with AI agents working alongside them and recommending new skills—but only 30% are comfortable with an AI agent managing them. Only 24% are comfortable with AI agents operating without human knowledge. Clear boundaries are essential to build trust.
• Exposure Drives Trust: Trust in AI agents rises dramatically with increased use—from 36% trust among beginners to 95% among experienced users.
• Productivity Gains and Concerns: Nearly 90% of employees believe AI agents will help increase productivity, but many worry about increased pressure (48%), decline in critical thinking (48%), and less human interaction (36%).
• Task-Specific Trust: Trust is highest for AI in IT support and skills development, and lowest in sensitive areas like hiring, finance, and legal matters, emphasizing the need for human oversight.
• Finance Sector Optimism: With shortages of finance professionals, 76% of finance workers see AI agents as a solution, with key uses in forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and fraud detection.

Insights

Workday's research reveals a psychological boundary in workplace AI adoption: employees welcome AI as a collaborator but resist AI as a manager. This presents both challenges and opportunities for AI product development, requiring solutions that enhance productivity while respecting employee concerns. The correlation between AI trust and exposure suggests that positive initial experiences with AI agents are critical for deeper adoption. Workday's positioning as an AI platform managing people, money, and agents reflects this balance between AI capability and human comfort.

About the Research

The findings are based on a global survey of 2,950 full-time decision-makers and software implementation leaders across North America, APAC, and EMEA, conducted by Hanover Research in May and June 2025.

About Workday

Workday is the AI platform for managing people, money, and agents. The platform integrates AI at its core to help organizations elevate people, supercharge work, and advance business. Workday serves over 11,000 organizations worldwide, including more than 60% of the Fortune 500.

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For more details, read the full report AI Agents Are Here—But Don't Call Them Boss. Source: Workday Global Research on AI Agents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Employee Comfort with AI Agents

Q: What percentage of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents? A: 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents. Q: What percentage of employees would accept being managed by AI agents? A: Only 30% of employees would accept being managed by AI agents.

Organizational AI Adoption

Q: What percentage of organizations are expanding their use of AI agents? A: 82% of organizations are expanding their use of AI agents. Q: How does exposure affect trust in AI agents? A: Trust in AI agents increases significantly with exposure, rising from 36% among beginners to 95% among experienced users.

Concerns Regarding AI Implementation

Q: What are the main concerns employees have about AI implementation? A: Employees are worried about increased pressure and a decline in critical thinking (48%), and reduced human interaction (36%).

AI in the Finance Sector

Q: What percentage of finance workers believe AI agents can help address professional shortages? A: 76% of finance workers believe AI agents will help address professional shortages. Q: What are the key applications for AI agents in the finance sector? A: Top applications include forecasting, budgeting, financial reporting, and fraud detection.

Trust and AI Boundaries

Q: Are employees comfortable with AI agents operating without human knowledge? A: Only 24% of employees are comfortable with AI agents operating without human knowledge, indicating a need for clear boundaries.

Crypto Market AI's Take

This research from Workday offers crucial insights into the current landscape of AI adoption in the workplace. The clear preference for AI as a collaborator rather than a manager aligns with broader discussions about human-AI synergy. For the cryptocurrency market, this sentiment suggests that AI-driven tools that assist traders and provide market intelligence without usurping control will likely see greater adoption. Platforms that focus on empowering users with AI insights, rather than replacing human decision-making, will resonate more effectively. This research underscores the importance of user trust and transparency in the development and deployment of AI in any sector, including the volatile and rapidly evolving crypto space. Understanding these employee preferences can inform the design of more effective and user-friendly AI trading tools and platforms.

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