Gartner says AI is lifting productivity across Australian workplaces, but it is also deepening divisions between employees who are embracing the technology and those who are resisting it. The survey suggests that AI success will depend less on access to tools and more on workforce confidence, clarity and support.
Productivity gains, but unevenly shared
The Gartner Global Talent Monitor Survey for 1Q26 found that 38% of Australian employees are now expected to use AI in their roles. Among them, 85% have access to enterprise AI tools, yet 86% also use personal AI tools to get work done more efficiently or tackle more complex tasks.
Gartner said hybrid AI users are 2.2 times more likely to report significant time savings, but the behaviour also creates governance and data-risk concerns for employers.
Neal Woolrich, director analyst in Gartner’s HR practice, said organisations often “equate AI rollout with success” when access alone does not create impact. He warned that without the right support, skills and clarity, AI risks widening performance gaps rather than improving outcomes for all.
A split workforce
The findings show a workforce divided between enthusiasm and caution. Employees with high AI use are 6.7 times more likely to improve workflows and processes, and 4.6 times more likely to be identified as high-potential talent.
But only 17% qualify as “AI Champions” with high use and positive sentiment, while 56% are “AI Resisters” with low use and negative sentiment.
That divide matters because it shapes both productivity and retention. Gartner said organisations should focus on targeted retention and reskilling for resisters to encourage greater use, rather than assuming generic training will close the gap.
Confidence is the real lever
Woolrich said the strongest driver of successful AI adoption is employee confidence, not training alone. The survey found nearly half of Australian workers are enthusiastic about AI, around one in four are frustrated by how it is changing their role, and many remain uncertain about long-term job security.
That anxiety is amplified by weak labour market confidence. Gartner has separately reported that Australian job market confidence has hit a three-year low, while employees remain unsure both about available jobs and how their skills will stay relevant as AI spreads.
What employers need to do
Gartner said only half of Australian employees report clear guidance, training or support for AI use, and even fewer say their organisation has explained how roles will evolve. That lack of direction is emerging as one of the biggest barriers to real value creation.
The consultancy added that organisations are twice as likely to exceed revenue goals if they redesign work, rather than simply deploy AI tools. For employers, the message is straightforward: AI is now as much a leadership and change-management challenge as a technology project.
