AI Enhances Work Efficiency but Increases Isolation Among Employees
WHO:
Fast Company - Workday conducted the global research.
Fast Company - Dario Amodei is the CEO of Anthropic.
Fast Company - Jan-Emmanuel De Neve is an Oxford University professor.
WHAT:
Fast Company - Nearly two-thirds of employees using AI say it has increased their confidence in their ability to succeed in future roles.
Fast Company - One-third of employees report rarely or never having conversations with colleagues beyond transactional work tasks during a typical week.
Fast Company - Less than half of employees now say it’s easy to make friends at work.
Fast Company - 14% of employees took time off during the past year due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Fast Company - 62% of employees using AI report reduced burnout.
Fast Company - 86% of employees report greater productivity and improved focus on higher-value work.
Fast Company - 43% of employees are more concerned that AI will reduce interactions with colleagues than that it will eliminate their jobs.
Fast Company - 14% of employees took time off in the past year due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Fast Company - 76% of employees solicited advice from chatbots over the past year.
Fast Company - 52% of employees used chatbots for creative ideation.
Fast Company - 37% of employees relied on chatbots for companionship.
Fast Company - The percentage of Americans reporting zero friends quadrupled from 3% to 12% by 2021.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The research is global in scope.
WHY:
Fast Company - The research indicates that social connections have weakened significantly since COVID, with Americans reporting higher levels of loneliness and fewer close friendships than in previous generations.
Fast Company - Companies have sought to improve efficiency, free up employee time, and reduce employee stress.
Fast Company - Employees are increasingly turning to chatbots for needs that once influenced them to reach out to teammates.
HOW:
Fast Company - Organizations are encouraged to rethink managerial span of control, suggesting that a manager's span should not exceed the number of employees they can realistically meet with for 30 minutes every week.
Fast Company - AI is being used to brainstorm, get advice, make decisions, and socialize.
Fast Company - Organizations are encouraged to bring intentionality to protecting human connection while adopting AI.
(UPDATED June 29, 2026 14:19 UTC)
A recent study reveals that nearly two-thirds of employees using AI feel more confident about their future roles, yet one-third report rarely engaging in conversations with colleagues beyond work tasks. Additionally, less than half of employees find it easy to make friends at work, and 14% have taken time off in the past year due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The research highlights a significant decline in social connections since COVID, prompting organizations to reconsider managerial practices to foster better workplace relationships.
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(UPDATED June 29, 2026 12:27 UTC)
A recent global study by Workday reveals that 62% of employees using AI report feeling less burnout, while a significant 86% say it enhances their productivity and allows them to focus on higher-value tasks. Interestingly, 43% of employees express more concern about AI diminishing their interactions with colleagues than about job loss, and 14% have taken time off in the past year due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. As organizations increasingly adopt AI for brainstorming, decision-making, and socializing, experts urge them to prioritize the protection of human connections alongside these technological advancements.