Research from Adobe Acrobat reveals a widening divide between senior executives and frontline employees when it comes to workplace AI usage, confidence and trust. The findings suggest that while AI adoption has become commonplace among business leaders, many employees remain cautious, unconvinced or simply unsure how to incorporate the technology into their daily work. This divergence raises important questions about the future of workplace productivity, skills development and organisational governance.
AI has become a workplace mainstream tool
The report, The Rise of AI Documents in the Workplace, found that 68 per cent of workers now use AI tools as part of their work activities. Rather than being viewed as experimental technology, AI is becoming integrated into everyday professional workflows, particularly those involving documents, communication and administrative processes.
Tasks such as drafting emails, proofreading reports, summarising lengthy documents and organising meeting notes are increasingly being supported by AI-powered systems. This trend reflects wider developments across the technology sector. Major software providers, including Microsoft, Google and Adobe, have rapidly integrated AI capabilities into core business applications. As a result, workers often encounter AI tools directly within software they already use rather than as standalone products. However, widespread availability does not necessarily lead to universal adoption.
A growing leadership divide
A key finding from the study relates to differences between business leaders and employees. Nearly three-quarters of C-suite executives (74 per cent) reported feeling comfortable sharing workplace documents with AI systems. Among non-management employees, that figure falls dramatically to just 20 per cent.
Only 1 per cent of senior executives reported not using AI at work. By contrast, 59 per cent of non-management employees said they do not use any AI tools as part of their professional activities. These findings suggest that AI adoption is not simply a technological issue. It is increasingly becoming a leadership issue. Senior executives appear significantly more willing to experiment with AI tools, while many employees remain hesitant.
One explanation may be exposure. Executives are more likely to encounter AI discussions within strategic planning, digital transformation initiatives and technology investment decisions. They may therefore be more familiar with both the opportunities and limitations of AI. Employees, meanwhile, may have fewer opportunities to receive training or practical support. The consequence is the emergence of what could become an AI confidence gap.
The productivity advantage
Comfort with AI appears to be translating into measurable productivity gains. According to the survey, 37 per cent of C-suite leaders report saving between three and five hours per week through AI usage. Among non-management employees, only 13 per cent reported comparable time savings. In fact, the most common experience among non-management workers was saving less than one hour per week.
A time saving of three to five hours each week is equivalent to reclaiming almost an entire working day every fortnight. Across a large organisation, such productivity gains could have considerable implications for efficiency and competitiveness. The findings suggest that the workers most comfortable with AI may also be obtaining the greatest benefits from it. This creates a feedback loop whereby those already familiar with the technology become increasingly productive, while others risk being left behind.
The survey also found notable differences in how AI is being applied within organisations. Here, senior executives are considerably more likely to employ AI for analytical and strategic activities. Around 35 per cent use AI for data analysis, spreadsheets or technical tasks, compared with only 12 per cent of non-management staff. Similarly, one-third of executives reported using AI for meeting management, scheduling and brainstorming, while only 12 per cent of employees reported doing the same.
Document-related activities remain among the most common applications. AI is increasingly being used to create and edit emails, reports and PDFs, helping workers manage document-heavy workflows more efficiently. These findings suggest that leadership teams are often using AI not merely to automate routine tasks but to support decision-making and analysis.
As AI capabilities continue to develop, this distinction may become increasingly important. In this regard, the report also highlights major differences between sectors. Workers in information technology, telecommunications and technology-focused industries demonstrated the highest levels of adoption and confidence. Only a small minority reported no workplace AI usage, and many indicated a willingness to share work-related documents with AI systems.
Digital-first industries are often early adopters of emerging technologies and may have stronger governance frameworks to support their implementation. By contrast, sectors such as healthcare, education and non-profit organisations were generally more cautious. In these environments, concerns around privacy, regulation and professional accountability may create additional barriers to adoption. For healthcare professionals, for example, the use of AI may involve handling sensitive patient information. Educational institutions may face concerns around academic integrity and data protection. As a result, the pace of AI adoption often reflects organisational context rather than technological capability alone.
Despite strong growth in adoption, significant concerns remain. Data privacy and security were identified as the leading obstacles to wider workplace AI use. Concerns over accuracy and reliability followed closely behind.
While generative AI can produce impressive outputs, it is also capable of generating inaccurate information, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “hallucination”. Organisations must therefore balance productivity gains with appropriate oversight and verification. The survey also found demographic differences in attitudes towards AI. Younger employees, particularly those aged between 25 and 34, reported the highest levels of confidence. Older workers were considerably more cautious. Gender differences were also apparent, with women more likely than men to express concerns about sharing work-related information with AI tools.