AI users spend 40% of saved time fixing errors
Despite AI adoption saving hours each week, many employees spend that time reworking outputs, limiting overall productivity gains.
A recent study from Workday reveals that 40% of the time saved by AI in the workplace is spent correcting errors, highlighting a growing productivity paradox. Frequent AI users are bearing the brunt, often double- or triple-checking outputs to ensure accuracy.
Despite widespread adoption- 87% of employees report using AI at least a few times per week, and 85% save one to seven hours weekly-much of that time is redirected to fixing low-quality results rather than achieving net gains in productivity.
The findings suggest that AI can increase workloads rather than streamline operations if not implemented carefully.
Experts argue that AI should enhance human work rather than replace it. Employees need tools that handle complex tasks reliably, allowing teams to focus on creativity, judgment, and strategic decision-making.
Upskilling staff to manage AI effectively is critical to realising sustainable productivity benefits.
The study also highlights the risk of organisations prioritising speed over quality. Many AI tools place trust and accuracy responsibilities on employees, creating hidden costs and risks for decision-making.
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