AI is often positioned as the next step in the future of work, promising efficiency gains and new ways to get work done. But for many organizations, a critical step must come first: building a strong technology foundation.
According to a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. employees, that foundation is still being built. Most respondents—83%—are ready for device upgrades, largely because they want better performance and reliability.
This analysis examines what the findings mean for workplace AI adoption, including the device challenges that slow work today, how those challenges affect employees’ ability to use AI tools consistently, and where AI adoption is already gaining momentum.
Key Takeaways
83% of workers want device upgrades, with faster performance and longer battery life as top priorities.
Tech employees are more than three times as likely as the average worker to prioritize AI capabilities in their next device upgrade.
80% of workers report device-performance friction, contributing to lost productivity, stress, and missed deadlines.
AI adoption tends to be higher in sectors with stronger technology foundations. For example, 88% of tech employees use AI daily or occasionally, compared with 58% of employees in education.
The Foundation for Future AI Adoption
With 83% of surveyed workers ready for device upgrades, demand for better performance is high. When asked to select the single most important upgrade for their next device, employees identified the following priorities:
| Top device-upgrade priority | Share of employees |
|---|---|
| Faster performance or processing power | 33% |
| Longer battery life | 25% |
| Better multitasking capability or AI compatibility | 7% |
Tech employees are a notable exception. They are more than three times as likely as the average worker to prioritize AI capabilities: nearly one-quarter (24%) selected multitasking or AI compatibility as their top upgrade priority.
The difference may come down to baseline hardware quality. Tech workers typically already have access to faster processors, stronger battery life, and more reliable devices. With those essentials covered, their attention can shift to advanced capabilities such as AI.
This pattern suggests a clear progression for broader AI adoption. When employees have reliable, high-performing devices, they can focus on AI technologies that support productivity and efficiency. When those fundamentals are missing, workers may struggle to complete basic tasks, making more advanced AI adoption difficult.
80% of Workers Say Device Performance Shapes Their AI Readiness
The device challenges employees experience are significant. In the survey, 80% of workers reported performance friction, including slower processing speeds, unexpected interruptions, and connectivity issues.
A brief interruption may seem minor, but these slowdowns can become more consequential when employees are running data-heavy AI applications. Respondents identified the following top frustrations:
| Device-performance frustration | Share of employees |
|---|---|
| Lost time or reduced productivity | 32% |
| Increased stress or mental fatigue | 21% |
| Needing workarounds or additional devices | 21% |
| Missed deadlines or opportunities | 6% |
These findings align with HP’s 2025 Work Relationship Index, which found that 62% of knowledge workers believed their companies’ expectations increased in 2025. As expectations rise, every minute matters. Device-performance gaps can become both a productivity drain and a meaningful source of employee stress.
Remote Work Raises the Stakes for Reliable Hardware
These performance issues can be even more disruptive outside the office. In 2026, 47% of workers expect to work remotely to some degree, relying on portable devices and cloud connections instead of a fixed corporate desk.
This shift changes how employees interact with technology—and with the AI tools increasingly used at work. Many AI-driven workflows depend on consistent access to cloud-based systems, real-time data processing, and uninterrupted device performance.
When a device slows down or loses connectivity in the middle of a task, employees can lose the ability to guide, monitor, or capture AI-generated insights. Even brief downtime can create larger disruptions and bring an automated workflow to a halt.
Remote workers also cannot always walk down the hall for IT support when a device fails. They need reliable infrastructure that keeps their AI tools connected and functional, 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 clearer when looking at actual usage. Among employees who could use AI in their roles, 53% currently do so, while roughly 46% do not.
Among employees who use AI at work:
14% use it daily.
39% use it occasionally for specific tasks.
However, adoption rates differ considerably by industry.
| Industry | Daily AI use | Occasional AI use | Total daily or occasional use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | 32% | 56% | 88% |
| Finance | 22% | 55% | 77% |
| Insurance | 22% | 61% | 83% |
| Education | 8% | 50% | 58% |
| Retail | 9% | 26% | 35% |
| Healthcare | 18% | 27% | 45% |
Tech employees lead by a wide margin: 88% report using AI in the workplace, including 32% who use it daily and 56% who use it occasionally.
Finance and insurance also show strong adoption. In finance, 22% of employees use AI daily and 55% use it occasionally. In insurance, 22% use AI daily and 61% use it occasionally.
The gap becomes more pronounced in other sectors. Education employees report 50% occasional AI use, but only 8% daily use. In retail, 26% use AI occasionally and 9% use it daily. Healthcare falls between those groups, with 45% of workers using AI at least occasionally and 18% using it daily.
