Survey Finds Tech Both Aids and Strains Canadian Productivity

A Samsung Canada survey of 1,547 adults finds most Canadians say technology speeds up tasks but adds to their mental load.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work

Survey Finds Tech Both Aids and Strains Canadian Productivity

Live Poll

Do you feel technology is making your daily life more overwhelming than helpful?

Samsung Canada released survey results showing that 75 per cent of Canadians say technology helps them get things done faster, while 68 per cent say it gives them more to manage. The findings suggest digital tools are creating both efficiency gains and new sources of friction in daily work.

Why it matters

The survey points to notifications, information searches and app switching as the main sources of added work for Canadians. Samsung positioned its AI features, including Now Brief and Now Nudge, as potential solutions to these pressures.

Samsung Canada's survey of 1,547 adults found 77 per cent cite messages and notifications as slowing them, while 59 per cent say they feel mentally drained by technology. The survey reports perceptions rather than measured output, and does not quantify productivity changes.

The players

Samsung Canada

The Canadian arm of the South Korean electronics company Samsung, which commissioned the survey and promotes its Now Brief and Now Nudge AI features.

Leger Opinion

A Canadian market research firm whose online panel platform was used to field the survey among Canadian adults.

The details

The survey was conducted between August 31 and September 2, 2026, using the Leger Opinion panel platform. Respondents reported that switching between apps (62 per cent) and competing demands (66 per cent) also add to their workload.

August 31 to September 2, 2026: Survey fieldwork conducted.
November 4, 2026: Samsung Canada publishes survey results.

Market Landscape

The survey arrives as device makers, including Samsung, increasingly market AI assistants that summarize notifications and prompt tasks as remedies for digital overload. The findings give those products a concrete problem to target, though the survey itself is commissioned by the company promoting them.

If notifications and app-switching are slowing your day, the survey suggests checking which alerts you actually need and consolidating tools where possible. The findings reflect self-reported perceptions, so results will vary by workplace and role.

The takeaway

Technology is delivering speed for most Canadians but also adding a cognitive load that many feel at the end of the day. Reducing notification clutter and tool sprawl may matter as much as adopting new tools.