AI agents may be creeping into more corners of the workplace, but don’t expect workers to start saluting their new robot overlords anytime soon.
Workday’s new global report—cheekily titled “AI Agents Are Here—But Don’t Call Them Boss”—shows 75% of employees are comfortable working alongside AI agents, but just 30% are fine being managed by one. That split reveals a tension many companies will have to navigate: the productivity boost AI brings versus employees’ need for human oversight and connection.
AI’s Popularity Surge—With Limits
The survey found 82% of organizations are expanding AI agent use, largely on a wave of optimism about their potential. But workers are drawing boundaries:
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Only 24% are OK with AI agents operating silently in the background without human awareness.
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Trust in AI spikes with hands-on experience—jumping from 36% among AI newbies to 95% among seasoned users.
In short: familiarity breeds comfort, not contempt.
Co-Pilot, Not Commander
Employees are most confident in AI agents for IT support and skills development—areas where automation speeds up tedious tasks. But trust plummets when the stakes are higher, like in hiring, finance approvals, or legal decisions.
Kathy Pham, Workday’s VP of AI, put it simply:
“AI can be an incredible partner… Building trust means keeping people at the center of every decision.”
Productivity’s Double-Edged Sword
Nearly 9 in 10 workers believe AI agents will help them get more done. But that optimism is tempered by worries about:
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Increased pressure to produce (48%)
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Declining critical thinking (48%)
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Reduced human interaction (36%)
The takeaway? AI needs to be rolled out with policies that prevent burnout and preserve the human touch.
Finance Gets the AI Assist
With a shortage of accountants and finance pros, the finance sector is more welcoming than wary.
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76% say AI agents will help close the talent gap.
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Only 12% fear job loss.
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Top finance AI use cases: forecasting/budgeting (32%), financial reporting (32%), and fraud detection (30%).
Bottom Line
The report suggests a clear roadmap for business leaders: use AI to enhance—not replace—human judgment, be transparent about where it’s used, and focus on employee trust. In the AI-powered workplace, the best boss might still be human… with a very capable digital sidekick.
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