Before planning ahead, it’s important to understand what’s already happening on the ground. AI is no longer just a future trend, it’s part of the everyday reality for many professionals. But how it’s being used (and how it’s being managed) varies widely.

Our latest survey of 864 business leaders and tech professionals across Australia and New Zealand revealed both momentum and misalignment, with many teams using AI regularly, even in the absence of formal strategy or support.

Note: This survey closed on 16 June 2025 and reflects a moment in time in a rapidly evolving space.

AI is already in play and it’s changing how people work

AI is firmly embedded in daily workflows for many. Over two-thirds of respondents are using it for search and research (67.7%), 65.4% for summarising content, and more than half for drafting emails and documents. One in three are even using it for data analysis, with more advanced tasks like coding assistance and multi-step workflows also starting to gain traction.

And when asked whether AI use has led to greater efficiency or productivity, nearly two-thirds (64.7%) said yes, with 15.1% reporting significant improvements.

Cameron Robinson, Head of Enterprise Solutions at Solve by Talent, put it simply:

“The research shows that the vast majority of people are using AI already. We haven’t got an adoption problem. Businesses won’t succeed trying to suppress AI usage. If leaders treat AI for what it is – technology – then many of the tried-and-tested principles for change and risk management will still apply.”

In short: your teams are already moving. The question is whether your strategy and support systems are keeping up.

Control and caution are creeping in

Despite widespread adoption, 38.3% of organisations now have policies in place restricting the use of external AI tools. Another 28.9% say they use tools like ChatGPT and Gemini with minimal governance. It’s clear many organisations are still figuring out how to balance innovation with risk.

Some workplaces are stepping up:

• 12.9% are currently exploring secure, fit-for-purpose AI solutions
• 11% have already developed in-house AI capabilities

But many others are stuck in a grey area, trying to contain AI use without clear plans for enablement.

AI adoption is still in the early stages

While usage is high, formal adoption lags behind. When asked how they’d describe their organisation’s current stage of AI integration:

• Just 4% say AI is fully embedded in their business strategy
• Nearly half (47.6%) say they’re still in the experimental or pilot stage
• 13.5% say they haven’t started at all

And when it comes to frequency:

• 33.7% use AI tools daily
• Another 26.3% use them a few times a week

But only 19.7% report AI being implemented in a few departments, and just 8.7% say it’s widely adopted. There’s a clear disconnect between individual uptake and organisational planning.

Excitement meets uncertainty

Some teams are leaning into AI’s potential, using it for content creation, document management, knowledge sharing, and even code generation or customer support. But there’s still uncertainty around how to scale these use cases effectively.

As one participant put it:

“We’re seeing some exciting use cases, but also a lot of uncertainty around skills, change management, and long-term planning.”

Another flagged resourcing concerns:

“We are using AI and love it, but we are limited in our usage due to budget limitations and lack of experience.”

And then there’s the ongoing question of safety and ethics:

“Although amazing things can be done using AI, the lack of governance and data privacy is deeply concerning.”

AI is already here even if strategy isn’t

The data tells a clear story: adoption is happening from the ground up. It might not be part of your long-term roadmap yet, but your people are using it. They’re testing it. They’re learning. Sometimes with support and often without.

What’s missing is clarity, consistency, and leadership.

Now is the time to catch up. Where to start?

• Establishing a governance framework that enables safe, confident AI use
• Understanding the tools their teams are already using
• Scaling the use cases that work, and ditching the ones that don’t
• Treating AI like any other strategic investment: purposeful, aligned, and people-focused

Curious how your organisation compares? Download our full report here to see the complete findings and discover how teams across Australia and New Zealand are navigating the AI shift.