Survey of 1,000+ Employees Reveals the Path to AI Adoption
AI is often positioned as the next step in the future of work, promising efficiency gains and new ways to get the job done. But for many organizations, there is a critical step that has to come first: building a strong foundation.
According to data gathered from more than 1,000 U.S. employees, that foundation is still being built. The vast majority (83%) are ready for device upgrades, largely driven by a desire for better performance and reliability.
The following analysis digs into this data and what it means for AI adoption in the workplace. That includes the specific device challenges that slow work today, how those issues affect the ability to use AI tools consistently, and where AI adoption is already taking off.
Key Takeaways
- Most workers (83%) want device upgrades, with speed and battery life as top priorities.
- Tech workers show what's possible when hardware needs are met. They're three times more likely to prioritize AI features in their next device upgrade.
- Performance issues affect 80% of workers, causing lost productivity, stress, and missed deadlines.
- AI adoption follows infrastructure: sectors with better technology show higher usage rates. For example, 88% of tech employees use AI daily or occasionally compared to 58% of those working in education.
The Foundation for Future AI Adoption
With 83% of workers ready for device upgrades, the demand for better performance is high. When asked to choose the single most important device upgrade:
- 33% would choose faster performance or processing power.
- 25% would choose longer battery life.
- 7% would opt for better multitasking capability or AI compatibility.
Tech workers stand out as a notable exception. They are more than three times as likely as the average worker to prioritize AI capabilities, with nearly a quarter (24%) choosing multitasking or AI compatibility as their top upgrade. The difference? Tech workers typically already have access to faster processors, better batteries, and more reliable hardware. With those basics covered, their priorities naturally shift toward advanced capabilities like AI.
This pattern suggests a clear progression for broader AI adoption. When employees have reliable, high-performing devices, they can shift their focus to AI technologies that boost productivity and efficiency. When those fundamentals are missing, workers struggle to complete basic tasks, making advanced AI adoption nearly impossible.
80% of Workers Say Device Performance Shapes Their AI Readiness
The device challenges employees face are real. The majority of workers (80%) report performance friction including slower processing speeds, unexpected interruptions, and connectivity issues.
While a brief interruption might seem like a minor annoyance, these slowdowns become major hurdles when running data-heavy AI applications. Workers report their top frustrations as:
- Lost time or reduced productivity (32%)
- Increased stress or mental fatigue (21%)
- Needing to find workarounds or use additional devices (21%)
- Missed deadlines or missed opportunities (6%)
On top of that, HP's 2025 Work Relationship Index found 62% of knowledge workers believe their companies’ expectations increased in 2025. When expectations rise, every minute counts, and device performance gaps can become both a productivity drain and a significant source of stress.
Remote Work Raises the Stakes for Reliable Hardware
These performance issues hit even harder outside the office. In 2026, 47% of workers expect to work remotely to some degree, relying on portable devices and cloud connections rather than a fixed corporate desk.
This shift fundamentally changes how we interact with technology, and with the AI tools that increasingly power our work. Many AI-driven workflows depend on seamless access to cloud-based systems, real-time data processing, and uninterrupted device performance.
When a device slows or drops connectivity mid-task, the ability to guide, monitor, and capture AI insights is severed. Even brief downtime can cascade into significant disruptions, grinding an automated process to a total halt.
Remote workers can't walk down the hall for IT support when devices fail. They need infrastructure that works reliably, keeping AI tools connected and running regardless of location.
Nearly 1 in 2 U.S. Employees Could Use AI at Work, But Don’t
The connection between device performance and AI adoption becomes even clearer when looking at actual usage patterns. The majority (53%) of employees who could use AI in their roles currently do so, while roughly 46% don't.
Among those who do use AI, 14% turn to it daily, and 39% use it occasionally for specific tasks. But these adoption rates vary dramatically by industry.
Tech employees lead by a wide margin. An overwhelming 88% report using AI in the workplace, including 32% who use it daily and 56% who use it occasionally. Finance and insurance follow a similar pattern, with strong occasional usage (55% and 61% respectively) and moderate daily adoption (22% for both).
The gap widens in other sectors. Education and retail workers use AI occasionally (50% and 26% respectively), but daily adoption remains in the single digits (8% and 9%). Healthcare falls somewhere in between, with 45% using AI at least occasionally but only 18% making it part of their daily routine.
