AI & Cognitive Demand
External empirical finding · Contextual · 2026
Employees report AI productivity gains while its psychological impact receives limited implementation attention
In Mercer's 2026 global survey, 83% of employees said AI had made them more productive and efficient at work. At the same time, 62% believed leaders underestimated its negative emotional and psychological impact, while only 19% of HR leaders said these impacts were considered in their digital implementation strategy.
Research basis
Global online workforce survey. 9,250 employees, 1,650 HR leaders, 825 C-suite executives, and 100 investors across 16 geographies and 16 industries; fielded September to October 2025.
What it supports
A reported gap between the value employees perceive from AI and the attention organizations give its emotional and psychological effects during implementation.
Boundary
That AI objectively increased productivity, caused psychological harm, or changed Biological Capacity.
BOL relevance
Supports examining AI implementation as a human-system and work-design challenge, not only a technology, skills, or adoption challenge.
Source class
Consulting or industry research
Role in BOL
Contextual
Population context
Employed adults
Evidence basis
Self-reported
Result and methodology checked 26 July 2026.