AI is now woven into the fabric of daily work with 72% of respondents using it regularly across the globe a whopping 92% in India. However, the true value of AI is being captured by a smaller subset of companies that go beyond tool deployment to fully redesign workflows, a new Boston Global Group found.
The 'AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain' report by BCG) found that while AI adoption is strong overall, only 51% of frontline employees are regular users — a figure that has stagnated. Meanwhile, the Global South continues to lead in adoption, with India at 92% and the Middle East at 87% as the nations with the highest levels of regular use.
Yet these two high-use countries also report the greatest fear about automation’s impact, far higher than the 41% of all global respondents worried their roles could disappear within the next decade.
The third edition of BCG’s annual survey was based on responses from over 10,600 workers across 11 countries.
"India is leading the global AI charge, with 92% of employees regularly using GenAI tools — well ahead of the global average of 72%. The country also ranks among the top nations experimenting with AI agents, with 17% of employees reporting integration into their workflows, placing India in the global top three," said Nipun Kalra, managing director and India Leader - BCG X, BCG.
"However, this rapid adoption brings new challenges. Nearly half (48%) of Indian employees fear job displacement over the next decade, highlighting a growing sense of uncertainty. Furthermore, only about one-third of the workforce feels adequately trained to fully leverage AI’s potential. As we move from early adoption to delivering real business impact, Indian enterprises must invest in structured training, in-person coaching, and leadership enablement to scale value both responsibly and inclusively," he added.
According to the survey, only 36% of Indian employees feel adequately trained in AI use. Those who receive five or more hours of training — especially in person and with coaching — are significantly more likely to become regular users. Over half of respondents (54%) said they would use AI tools even if not authorised, with GenZ and millennials especially prone to bypass restrictions.
This "shadow AI" poses rising security risks. Further, just 25% of frontline workers said their leaders provide enough guidance on AI. Where leadership is engaged, adoption and employee optimism are markedly higher.
Three in four employees believe AI agents — smart digital assistants capable of independent task management — will be vital for future success. Yet only 13% say these tools are currently integrated into workflows, while just one-third understand how they function. As familiarity increases, fear fades — and workers begin to view agents as collaborators rather than competitors.
“Companies that reshape their workflows and invest in people are seeing superior results,” said Vinciane Beauchene, global lead on Human x AI at BCG and a coauthor of the report. “But that transformation must be accompanied by a clear people strategy and development engine to boost adoption and tackle the impacts it will have on work, the worker and the workforce.”
The 'AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain' report by BCG) found that while AI adoption is strong overall, only 51% of frontline employees are regular users — a figure that has stagnated. Meanwhile, the Global South continues to lead in adoption, with India at 92% and the Middle East at 87% as the nations with the highest levels of regular use.
Yet these two high-use countries also report the greatest fear about automation’s impact, far higher than the 41% of all global respondents worried their roles could disappear within the next decade.
The third edition of BCG’s annual survey was based on responses from over 10,600 workers across 11 countries.
"India is leading the global AI charge, with 92% of employees regularly using GenAI tools — well ahead of the global average of 72%. The country also ranks among the top nations experimenting with AI agents, with 17% of employees reporting integration into their workflows, placing India in the global top three," said Nipun Kalra, managing director and India Leader - BCG X, BCG.
"However, this rapid adoption brings new challenges. Nearly half (48%) of Indian employees fear job displacement over the next decade, highlighting a growing sense of uncertainty. Furthermore, only about one-third of the workforce feels adequately trained to fully leverage AI’s potential. As we move from early adoption to delivering real business impact, Indian enterprises must invest in structured training, in-person coaching, and leadership enablement to scale value both responsibly and inclusively," he added.
According to the survey, only 36% of Indian employees feel adequately trained in AI use. Those who receive five or more hours of training — especially in person and with coaching — are significantly more likely to become regular users. Over half of respondents (54%) said they would use AI tools even if not authorised, with GenZ and millennials especially prone to bypass restrictions.
This "shadow AI" poses rising security risks. Further, just 25% of frontline workers said their leaders provide enough guidance on AI. Where leadership is engaged, adoption and employee optimism are markedly higher.
Three in four employees believe AI agents — smart digital assistants capable of independent task management — will be vital for future success. Yet only 13% say these tools are currently integrated into workflows, while just one-third understand how they function. As familiarity increases, fear fades — and workers begin to view agents as collaborators rather than competitors.
“Companies that reshape their workflows and invest in people are seeing superior results,” said Vinciane Beauchene, global lead on Human x AI at BCG and a coauthor of the report. “But that transformation must be accompanied by a clear people strategy and development engine to boost adoption and tackle the impacts it will have on work, the worker and the workforce.”
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