Workplace AI adoption is progressing slowly and remains inconsistent, according to a survey conducted in May 2026. The third wave of the Konstanz AI study, which included responses from 1,105 employees, found that only a small increase—from 35% to 38%—of workers are using AI in their jobs compared to the previous year. This suggests that AI integration is often driven by individual employees rather than being part of a company’s formal strategy. Many workers are experimenting with AI tools on their own, while organizations are still working to create secure systems, proper training, and governance structures around AI use. The survey also highlights a growing divide based on job type. Employees in office and knowledge-based roles are much more likely to use AI—49%—compared to those in production or manual jobs, where only 25% use AI. This gap has not narrowed despite growth in both groups, likely because AI has more obvious applications in certain types of work. Similarly, workers with higher education levels are more likely to use AI—56%—than those with less education—21%. These more-educated workers also tend to have more positive views about AI’s potential and are more open to its use. Smaller companies are lagging behind in AI support and infrastructure. Only 11% of employees in small organizations report having received AI training, and just 10% say their company has formal rules for AI use. Larger organizations are more likely to provide training, set guidelines, and offer company-approved AI tools. As a result, AI benefits are concentrated among those in larger firms, knowledge-based jobs, and higher education levels. Without targeted efforts to support smaller businesses and less-educated workers, these inequalities may widen further. Despite concerns about AI’s impact on the labor market, many employees do not see it as an immediate threat to their own jobs. While 40% of workers believe AI and automation will negatively affect the labor market over the next decade, only 17% are personally worried about job loss. Most employees feel that AI has not yet significantly changed their work environments—only 12% think it has reduced entry-level jobs, and just 23% see AI as a major contributor to their organization’s value. For many, AI is still seen more as a future societal challenge than a direct risk to their employment. Researchers suggest that companies need to communicate their AI strategies more clearly and actively support employees as they adapt to new technologies. Recommendations include setting clear guidelines for AI use, expanding training programs, offering more support to small and medium-sized businesses, and developing AI tools that can be used across a variety of job roles. These steps could help ensure a more balanced and inclusive AI transformation in the workplace.