New SHRM Research Predicts the Impact of AI on the Workplace

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace, but its impact to date is far from uniform, said SHRM HR technology analyst Kenny Pyle at SHRM26 in Orlando as he announced the release of a new research report, Navigating AI in the Workplace: 2026. The report unpacks the current landscape of AI adoption and how AI integration affects work performance. 

Here are three key insights from the report regarding AI’s impact on worker productivity, performance, and wages. 

Weekly Time Saved Differs by Job Level

AI has the potential to change the way employees work, but it must be used alongside critical thinking to ensure its results are accurate. The outputs received from AI still require careful review. 

“Only half of workers said they feel confident to very confident about the outputs they receive from AI, and 27% feel only somewhat confident,” Pyle said. 

However, the time saved by using AI indicates that the technology may be worth the additional review process. Interestingly, the time saved with AI usage varies significantly by job level. 

“When looking at the differences by job level, directors report saving nine hours per week, compared to seven hours for managers and just four hours for individual contributors,” Pyle said.

Work Performance Has Improved, Yet Job Security Remains Mixed

Most of the surveyed employees said they believe AI has improved work quality and efficiency, the report found.

“Just over two-thirds of workers reported improved work efficiency, while 63% reported improved quality in their work. Over half of workers said that they see improved creativity, volume of weekly workload output, and ability to make decisions,” Pyle said.

Despite these noted wins from using AI, workers were divided in how they perceive the impact of AI on their job stability. 

“When it comes to the impact on job security, workers are almost equally split, with 43% reporting no real impact at all and 40% reporting improvement,” Pyle said.

The surveyed workers said they believe job transformation is coming but still feel relatively secure in their positions, even as more than half of them (52%) said their organizations have attributed restructuring to AI adoption. 

“Workers believe their overall role remains secure, even if AI automates specific tasks. This mindset highlights a clear distinction between job transformation and job replacement,” Pyle said.

Technical Workers Anticipate Reskilling

When looking at the future of work, HR leaders are constantly discussing how reskilling will factor into retaining existing talent pools. AI will impact different fields in different ways, but the industries that anticipate the most need to reskill are those whose jobs require technical skills. 

“Nearly two-thirds of engineering and technology graduates said they anticipate reskilling to adopt new responsibilities, followed by those with degrees in business, public, and communication, and education and interdisciplinary,” Pyle said.

Overall, the benefits of upskilling in AI proficiency appear worthwhile to workers, Pyle said. A whopping 72% of the surveyed workers said they believe future wages will increase through upskilling, and 69% believe people who use AI more frequently will also earn more money.  
 

For more insights on AI in the workplace, view the full report, Navigating AI in the Workplace: 2026.