Executives Outpaced Employees in AI Adoption

A June 2026 survey revealed that senior leaders utilize generative and agentic AI more frequently than their staff.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration featuring two stacks of silicon wafers of unequal height, representing the digital adoption gap between corporate leadership and staff. — A June 2026 survey of over 7,600 U.S. adults found that 53.2% of executives use generative AI compared to 37.9% of employees. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel pressured to improve your AI skills to keep your job or advance?

In a survey of 7,675 U.S. adults conducted in June 2026, 53.2% of executives reported using generative AI compared to 37.9% of employees. The data also highlighted a significant divide in the use of advanced agentic AI, with executives being 2.7 times more likely to employ these tools than the workforce.

Why it matters

The findings illustrate a growing disconnect in technological proficiency and utility between leadership and staff as organizations integrate AI. This gap suggests that while leaders are driving AI implementation for research, the broader workforce remains focused on more basic search functions.

Executives are 2.7 times more likely to use agentic AI than their employees, with 17.5% adoption among leaders versus 6.6% among workers. Furthermore, 76.8% of executives prefer human assistance for banking and 77.4% for healthcare tasks.

The players

Proper Insights and Analytics

This firm conducted the research and survey data analysis regarding AI adoption across U.S. workplaces.

The details

Executives utilize generative AI primarily for research tasks, whereas employees most often rely on the technology for simple internet searches. Despite the high adoption rates, nearly 20% of leaders report feeling out of their depth, with 18% admitting to feigning greater AI knowledge than they actually possess.

The survey was conducted in June 2026.
Respondents aim to improve AI skills within the next year to boost career prospects.

The Tech Race

This disparity mirrors the historical digital divide in workplace technology training identified by Proper Insights and Analytics. The findings extend this pattern by demonstrating how emerging AI tools are currently favoring those in executive roles over the general workforce.

Employees who fall behind in AI skill development may face diminished career prospects, as 27% of respondents expect their professional standing to suffer within the next year. Workers should consider seeking employers who offer dedicated training programs to bridge this competency gap.

The takeaway

The data suggests that the push for AI integration is creating a bifurcated workplace where leaders and staff utilize tools at different complexities. To succeed, professionals at all levels should prioritize active learning to keep pace with the rapid shifts in organizational software requirements.