Given the central role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in today's economy—lofty valuations of AI companies driving the stock market, enormous data centers being constructed, plus serious uncertainties about AI's impact on the future workforce—a fascinating issue is how AI is actually being used on a regular basis in the workplace.

In short, as a society we are placing great hopes on AI, and developing economic dependence on it, so a very fair question is: So far, how much is it really delivering?

This question was analyzed in a comprehensive November 2025 study by McKinsey.

In digesting the study's findings, it seems clear to me that, at this stage (relatively early implementation), AI is offering organizations more potential than profitability.

"Most organizations are still in the experimentation or piloting phase," the report states. Companies are definitely curious about AI, and more are beginning to adopt it; 62% of respondents are at least experimenting with it.

Those finding success tend to be using it to redesign workflows, gain efficiencies, and become a "catalyst for innovation." But the massive benefits AI has promised still remain a fair distance away. The study notes that "use is broadening, but scale still lags." When substantive cost benefits are found, they have been mostly in "software engineering, manufacturing, and IT."

One very important trend (for employees everywhere) that has received considerable public attention is AI's possible impact on staffing levels. Many employees are understandably concerned about the impact AI could have on their jobs. So what does the data say?

Corporate decision makers were asked about the "expected change in number of employees across the enterprise as a result of AI in the next year." The results: 32% were expecting decreases in the number of employees due to AI efficiencies, and 13% were anticipating employee increases (42% foresaw minimal changes and 12% didn't know). Given that nearly one-third (32%) of organizations are expecting decreases, the data shows there is legitimate cause for employee unease and anxiety.

I've written about AI's impact before, as I believe the general topic is an extremely critical one. The McKinsey study is worth examining closely because of its size and McKinsey's stature in the business world as a thought leader and organizational expert.

From my own years in the corporate world I can say with confidence that designing highly productive, cost-effective workflows is indeed the Holy Grail of organizational efficiency. Any tool, such as AI, that helps companies reliably optimize workflows will be a boon to business.

Still, this study's data indicates that widespread improvements driven by AI contain more potential than profit. The research states, notably, that "the use of AI has not yet significantly affected enterprise-wide EBIT" (earnings before interest and taxes).

Thus the reality remains, at this point in time, as the study notes, that most organizations have not yet integrated AI tools "deeply enough into their workflows and processes to realize material enterprise-level benefits."

Singla, A., Chiu, M., Hall, B., Sukharevsky, A. & Yee, L. (November 2025). "The state of AI in 2025: Agents, innovation, and transformation." McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-sta…

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