How Leaders Can Improve AI Productivity With Talent Strategy

EY’s 2025 Work Reimagined Survey highlights a growing tension between AI adoption and human readiness.

While 88% of employees now use AI, nearly two-thirds say their workloads have increased and only 5% are using it in advanced ways to transform the way they work.

The research suggests that many organisations are missing up to 40% of potential productivity gains because leaders are prioritising adoption speed over readiness and capability.

Despite apparent widespread adoption, the survey, which includes responses from 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers across 29 countries, showed workplace anxieties contributing to the value gap.

Thirty-seven percent of employee respondents said they worry that relying too heavily on AI could erode their skills and expertise, while 64% perceive an increase in their workloads due to pressure to perform.

EY says the survey highlights that, when AI is in the hands of under-informed and misaligned talent, the technology's benefits are diminished.

EY Global’s and EY America’s People Consulting Leader, Kim Billeter, says in a statement: “AI is everywhere - but companies seem to be missing out on its full potential, held back by a gap between adoption and human readiness.

“Most employees surveyed are still using AI for basic tasks, while concerns around job security, skill erosion and rising workloads are creating resistance.

“When organisations master both talent and technology, AI helps deliver outsized results, but neglecting the human side can erode those gains.”

Unlocking high-value AI outcomes

EY outlines five interconnected strategic capabilities that it has named ‘Talent Advantage’.

Just over a quarter of organisations in the survey are strong across all five areas - using them as an integrated system not as separate areas of focus.

1. Total health and flow

Talent health and flow are core drivers of organisational success, according to EY, measured by employees’ willingness to recommend their employer. 

The global Talent Health score is 65 out of 100, with culture contributing 44%, rewards 32% and development 24%. 

Talent Advantage organisations lead significantly, with 89% of employees likely to promote their company versus only 20% at Talent Disadvantage firms. 

Retaining the AI-skilled employee group requires ongoing access to advanced technology, meaningful career growth and strong rewards.

2. AI adoption excellence 

According to EY, organisations maximising employee AI adoption value create opportunity to unlock eight to 14 hours per week in time savings as employees leverage higher complexity use cases.

Advanced users of AI don’t just use tools more, they use it differently by treating it as a colleague and coach.

Joe Depa, EY Global Chief Innovation Officer, says: “As we realised our own custom AI tool, EYQ, would eventually not be able to keep up with the rapid pace of technology advancement, we pivoted to providing an alternative enterprise version with GPT-5 as well.”

3. Learning and capability development

EY says that higher levels of AI training can cause issues, as its research shows that employees with more than 80 hours training are more than 50% more likely to quit compared to the average.

Talent Advantage organisations address this by pairing intensive learning with reward strategies including creating internal talent marketplaces and design progressive skill certifications.

4. Culture and workplace transformation 

This kind of transformation, according to the company, provides an enabling environment for AI integration.

With 60% of employees now agreeing that culture is significantly better than 12 months ago, up from 48% in 2021, employers have made progress in closing gaps in team connections and supporting employees.

Sixty-three percent of Talent Advantage employers report significantly better culture.

5. Strategic total rewards

Strategic total rewards must be personalised and flexible, according to EY’s capabilities, to align with evolving AI-driven roles.

Talent Advantage organisations understand that rewards drive approximately 32% of talent health and half of these employers agree their rewards meet employees’ needs.

Kim adds: “Our findings highlight the urgent need to address the human side of AI adoption. As AI reshapes the workplace, leaders must build cultures that support both talent health and effective technology use.

“Organisations that strengthen their talent foundations while advancing AI applications will be best positioned to achieve transformational results.”