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‘The amazement is kind of wearing off a little bit’: Wharton survey reveals managers are learning what Gen Z already figured out
Fortune • • business
Key Points:
- A new survey by Wharton Human-AI Research and GBK Collective shows that 62% of U.S. managers use AI daily, but excitement about the technology has declined, reflecting growing caution rather than backlash.
- Managers report a shift from creating AI outputs to managing and verifying them, with concerns about accountability for AI errors and the complexity of verification across organizational functions.
- AI adoption is putting strain on middle management, who face challenges prioritizing tasks and handling workflow changes, while some departments have slowed hiring due to AI’s impact on entry-level roles.
- Companies that redesign workflows and management structures around AI tend to see stronger financial returns, though such transformative approaches remain in the minority.
- Experts compare the current AI transformation to historical technological shifts like factory electrification, noting that widespread adoption and organizational change may take years and could accelerate during economic downturns.
