WalkMe, an SAP company and leader in Digital Adoption Platforms, released its second annual AI in the Workplace Survey. The findings reveal that while employees embrace AI, most lack proper support. This gap leads to wasted productivity, rising risks, and reduced ROI.

Shadow AI on the Rise

The survey shows 78% of employees use AI tools not approved by their employer. More than half also report conflicting guidance on AI usage. This shadow AI trend raises major compliance and security concerns.

The Productivity Paradox

Although 80% of workers believe AI boosts productivity, 60% admit it often takes longer to learn than manual work. Without training, businesses lose time and millions in investment.

“Beyond the productivity paradox, we face a governance crisis,” said Dan Adika, CEO and Co-founder of WalkMe. “With nearly 80% of employees using shadow AI, companies risk financial losses and missed opportunities.”

Cultural Barriers to AI Adoption

Cultural stigma adds further challenges. Nearly 45% of employees pretended to understand AI in meetings, while 49% denied using it to avoid judgment. The issue is stronger among Gen Z, with over half concealing or exaggerating AI knowledge.

Training Gaps Undermine ROI

AI adoption continues to grow, yet training remains limited. Daily AI usage rose 16 points since 2024, but only 7.5% of employees received extensive training. Another 23% had no training at all. According to WalkMe’s 2025 State of Digital Adoption Report, poor adoption costs companies an average of $104 million in 2024.

“AI is now a critical workplace skill,” said Gina Smith, PhD, Research Director at IDC. “Companies that build AI-ready strategies and digital adoption models will avoid losses and lead the next era of work.”

Survey Methodology

Propeller Insights surveyed on behalf of WalkMe from July 16–23, 2025. The study included 1,000 U.S. employees who actively use AI at work. The sample was balanced by age, gender, industry, company size, and seniority, with a ±3% margin of error.

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News Source: Globenewswire.com