Workday, Inc., the global enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) platform has released new research on Thursday that found the need to rework AI outputs is eroding productivity gains for employees.
This signals a productivity gap that Singapore organizations will need to address, especially as AI use is becoming more widespread, the firm said in a statement.
The study, which surveyed 3,200 respondents globally, including in Singapore, found that approximately half of Singapore respondents spend at least an hour each week clarifying, correcting or even rewriting AI-generated outputs, with 12 percent spending between two to four hours weekly on rework alone.
Despite this, net productivity gains remain positive, with seven in ten respondents noting they are more productive today compared to pre-AI adoption levels.
All respondents indicated that AI tools are already deployed in their organizations, and 86 percent reported implementing three or more AI use cases.
Meanwhile, organizations in the region are broadly aligned that AI-driven efficiency gains should benefit employees.
Some 68 percent of respondents agree that companies that reinvest in their people will be more competitive and resilient over the long term.
Among respondents whose organizations reported time savings from AI adoption, 78 percent said those gains were reinvested in employee development, upskilling or training, while 68 percent redirected time towards higher-value, strategic or innovative work.
Notably, 80 percent said AI cost savings were reinvested in the workforce – matching the proportion reinvested in technology or infrastructure, and significantly exceeding the share returned to shareholders (23 percent).
“Reinvesting AI-driven gains into people is critical to improving outcomes and sustaining long-term value creation,” said Jess O’Reilly, general manager, ASEAN, Workday.
“AI can improve efficiency, but speed alone does not unlock real value. What makes the biggest difference is reinvesting those
gains into people,
“Organizations will need to prioritize talent development in the core areas of AI literacy and critical thinking. Building confidence for employees in their use of AI will be pivotal to
reducing rework, enhancing business outcomes and delivering lasting value,” she added.
As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows, employees reported growing performance expectations, said the study.
Six in ten respondents say they are now expected to deliver a significantly higher volume of output compared to before AI adoption.
Findings from the report show that the burden of rework largely sits at mid-managerial levels.
Managers and directors are most likely to shoulder the responsibility of validating, refining, and approving work, including AI-assisted output – reflecting their role as quality gatekeepers.
Despite heightened expectations, overall sentiment remains largely positive.
Most respondents (75 percent) say they trust their leadership teams to make fair decisions about AI’s impact on job security and
rewards, while only 7 percent express concern about potential redundancy due to AI.
Six in 10 respondents also noted that their stress levels and risk of burnout have decreased since the deployment and adoption of AI tools.
The organizations realizing the greatest value from AI treat saved time as a strategic resource.
They reinvest in upskilling their teams, improving collaboration, and strengthening judgment-driven work.
The biggest opportunity is helping employees learn how to use AI effectively – especially in areas that require judgement, creativity, and decision-making. The research makes one thing clear: reinvesting in people is the fastest way to reduce rework, improve outcomes, and turn AI speed into lasting business value, said the statement.