Employees Set Boundaries: Reluctant to Accept AI Agents as Managers, Report Reveals
Employees worldwide are establishing clear limits on the role of AI agents in the workplace amid their rapid adoption across organizations.
A global poll conducted by Workday reveals that 82% of organizations are quickly deploying AI agents, with 88% believing these tools can reduce workloads and 71% expecting financial benefits for their companies.
While 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents, only 30% are open to being managed by them. Furthermore, just 45% agree that AI agents will become true members of the workforce.
"Employees are already defining clear boundaries about the role of agents. They're happy to use them as a tool but don't want them acting as managers or decision-makers," the report states.
Trust in AI Agents
Trust in AI varies depending on the task. Employees tend to trust AI agents more with decisions related to IT infrastructure and technology provisioning.
The report highlights high expectations for AI in workforce management, particularly in HR functions such as forecasting, planning, and policy development. However, areas already highly automated, like payroll management and compensation administration, are not expected to gain significant benefits from AI agents.
"This suggests that respondents may perceive less future impact from new agent capabilities in domains where foundational AI and automation are already well established," the report explains.
Skepticism remains regarding AI's potential to enhance recruitment and internal mobility significantly. The report suggests this caution stems from the personal judgment required in HR tasks such as recruiting, internal movement, compensation strategy, and complex payroll.
Boosting Trust in AI Agents
To increase employee trust in AI agents, the report recommends training programs that empower employees to understand when and how to use AI effectively.
"Our research reveals a clear correlation: exposure to AI agents significantly increases trust," the report notes. "The percentage of people who trust their organisation to use agents responsibly rises significantly with increased adoption maturity."
It emphasizes that AI implementation should not undermine the employee experience and must be strategically deployed.
Kathy Pham, Vice President of AI at Workday, states, > "Building trust means being intentional in how AI is used and keeping people at the centre of every decision."
Source: Originally published at HRD America on 12 Aug 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Employee Adoption of AI Agents
Q: What percentage of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents?
A: A significant majority, 75%, of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents.
Q: What is the employee sentiment towards AI agents managing them?
A: Only 30% of employees are open to being managed by AI agents, indicating a preference for human managers.
Q: Do employees believe AI agents will be integrated into the workforce?
A: While 75% are comfortable working with AI, only 45% agree that AI agents will become true members of the workforce, suggesting some reservation about full integration.
AI Agent Capabilities and Trust
Q: In which areas do employees trust AI agents the most?
A: Employees tend to trust AI agents more with decisions related to IT infrastructure and technology provisioning.
Q: Where do employees show skepticism about AI's impact in HR functions?
A: Skepticism remains regarding AI's potential to significantly enhance recruitment and internal mobility, likely due to the personal judgment required in these areas.
Q: What is the key to boosting employee trust in AI agents?
A: The report suggests that increased exposure through effective training programs, which help employees understand how and when to use AI, is crucial for building trust.
Organizational Adoption of AI Agents
Q: How rapidly are organizations adopting AI agents?
A: A global poll reveals that 82% of organizations are quickly deploying AI agents.
Q: What are the perceived benefits of AI agents in organizations?
A: 88% of organizations believe AI agents can reduce workloads, and 71% anticipate financial benefits for their companies.
Q: In which functional areas are AI agents expected to provide significant benefits?
A: High expectations exist for AI in workforce management, particularly in HR functions like forecasting and planning. However, areas already heavily automated, like payroll, are not expected to see major gains.
Crypto Market AI's Take
The sentiment echoed in this report regarding employee reservations about AI management aligns with broader discussions around the integration of artificial intelligence in the professional sphere. While AI agents are increasingly being adopted for their efficiency in tasks like data analysis and workflow optimization, the human element in management, decision-making, and nuanced interpersonal interactions remains highly valued. This cautious approach to AI in leadership roles highlights the importance of ethical AI development and deployment, ensuring that technology serves to augment, rather than diminish, human experience and oversight. For businesses navigating this landscape, fostering trust through transparency and education will be paramount.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, AI plays a pivotal role in market analysis and trading. Our platform leverages advanced AI agents to identify trends, predict market movements, and execute trades with sophisticated algorithms. Understanding the human element in AI adoption, as highlighted in this report, is also crucial for building user confidence in automated trading systems. We believe in empowering our users with insights and control, ensuring that AI serves as a powerful tool to enhance their trading strategies, not replace their judgment. Explore our
AI Crypto Trading Bots for an example of how AI can be integrated into financial decision-making.
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