Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a staple in the U.S. workplace. In just two years, the number of workers using AI at least a few times a year has nearly doubled, from 21% in 2023 to 40% in 2025, according to Gallup’s latest research.

The shift is most evident among white-collar workers, with 27% now reporting daily or frequent weekly AI use in their jobs, a 12-point rise from last year. Technology, finance, and professional services industries lead in AI integration, with tech workers showing the highest rates of regular use (50%).

Despite this momentum, Gallup’s data reveals a critical disconnect: many organizations are integrating AI tools without offering corresponding guidance or strategy. While nearly half of U.S. employees say their companies are introducing AI into workflows, less than one-quarter report receiving a clear roadmap or policy for how to use these tools.

This leadership gap could undermine both adoption and impact.

Why It Matters: The increase in AI usage among U.S. workers signifies a cultural shift in how businesses operate and compete. Yet, the lack of leadership support and uneven distribution of usage across sectors suggests that many organizations may not be equipped to manage the risks or maximize the potential of AI. How leaders respond now could shape the effectiveness and fairness of AI deployment in the years ahead.

• Workplace AI Adoption Nearly Doubles: In 2023, just over one in five workers (21%) reported using AI in their role at least occasionally. By 2025, that figure has climbed to 40%, with significant increases in both occasional and frequent use categories. Daily users doubled in the past year alone, rising from 4% to 8%.

• Frequent Users on the Rise, Especially Among White-Collar Workers: Employees using AI a few times a week or more jumped from 11% to 19% since 2023. Among white-collar roles, that number is even higher at 27%, compared to just 9% for production and frontline roles, down from 11% in 2023, indicating a growing disparity.

• Leaders and AI: Early Adopters, But Not Communicators: Leaders, defined as “managers of managers,” are more likely to use AI frequently (33%) than individual contributors (16%). Yet just 22% of employees say their organization has communicated a clear AI strategy, and only 30% report having general guidelines or formal AI-use policies.

• Value Remains Unclear to Many: Even among current AI users, just 16% strongly agree that their organization’s AI tools are useful in their day-to-day work. The top challenge cited is “unclear use case or value proposition,” suggesting a lack of alignment between AI integration and practical needs. This lack of clarity may limit broader adoption, especially among skeptical or lower-tech roles.

• AI Enthusiasm Linked to Hands-On Experience: Gallup’s findings show a sharp divide between those who have used AI and those who haven’t. For example, 68% of employees who’ve used AI to interact with customers report a positive effect on those interactions. In contrast, only 13% of non-users believe AI would improve customer service, indicating how exposure drives optimism.

• Clear Strategy Boosts Confidence and Readiness: Employees who strongly agree that their leadership has communicated a clear AI plan are three times more likely to feel very prepared to work with AI and 2.6 times more likely to feel comfortable using it. This suggests the transformative power of effective communication and structured implementation.

Go Deeper → AI Use at Work Has Nearly Doubled in Two Years – Gallup