As generative AI becomes a core part of workplace operations, many employees are questioning whether it has delivered on its promise of improving productivity. New research from Adaptavist reveals growing AI fatigue among knowledge workers, highlighting concerns over creativity, work quality, and the increasing effort required to verify AI-generated content despite continued support for responsible AI adoption.
Digital transformation consultancy Adaptavist has released new research showing that many knowledge workers are experiencing growing frustration with generative AI in the workplace. The study, which surveyed 2,500 professionals across the UK, US, Canada, Germany, and Spain, found that 65% regularly feel nostalgic for how work operated before generative AI became widely adopted.
Nearly one-third (30%) of respondents said they preferred the pre-AI workplace, while 38% stated they would remove generative AI tools entirely if given the opportunity.
The research also revealed stronger opposition among younger professionals, with 40% of both Gen Z and Millennials expressing a desire to remove AI compared to 32% of Gen X and 29% of Baby Boomers.
According to the survey, concerns extend beyond productivity to the overall quality and meaning of work.
Thirty-one percent of respondents who would remove AI believe it reduces creativity, while 29% cited concerns about misuse and 28% expressed worries over privacy and surveillance.
Employees also reported declining engagement as AI-generated content becomes more common. Nearly half (46%) said reviewing low-quality AI-generated content makes their work feel less meaningful and more repetitive, while 37% admitted it has reduced their overall engagement at work.
One of the report's most significant findings is the growing "verification tax" associated with AI-generated work.
Forty-two percent of respondents said they now spend more time verifying and fact-checking AI-generated output than the amount of time AI actually saves them. Additionally, 49% reported that poor-quality AI content slows project delivery, and 55% believe it reduces overall team efficiency.
The study suggests that while AI can accelerate content creation, organizations are increasingly investing additional time validating accuracy and reliability before information can be used.
The workplace is also evolving as employees compare their own performance with AI-generated output.
Half of all respondents said they feel their work is now being evaluated against AI-generated results. Meanwhile, 25% use AI simply to keep up with their workload, and 23% rely on it to remain competitive with colleagues.
Workers also reported greater pressure to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency in response to AI-enabled expectations across organizations.
Despite the challenges, the research does not suggest employees are rejecting AI altogether.
Most respondents remain optimistic about responsible AI adoption. Sixty-seven percent want their organizations to increase AI usage, 69% trust their employer is using AI ethically, and 66% believe their organization has been transparent about its AI strategy.
However, 36% admitted they often do not understand why AI is required in their role, and an equal percentage reported experiencing AI fatigue. The findings indicate that organizations may need to focus less on AI adoption metrics and more on demonstrating measurable business value while ensuring employees understand how AI supports their work.
"These findings point to an underlying gap we see in most AI implementations. It is much easier for organisations to focus on adoption metrics – who is using AI, how often they are using it – than it is to measure its impact on the work itself.
By understanding the nature of the work and the different value streams across your business, you can more accurately measure outcomes and impact rather than simply counting actions. When AI is introduced thoughtfully, with the right guardrails and genuine support for the people using it, it can enhance rather than erode what makes work meaningful and impactful." — Neal Riley, AI Innovation Lead at The Adaptavist Group.
The research highlights that while generative AI continues transforming modern workplaces, long-term success will depend on balancing automation with employee experience, governance, and meaningful implementation strategies.
At Adaptavist, we help organisations remove friction, unlock value, and achieve long-term, exponential growth. Founded in 2005, we’re a global provider of transformative solutions and a trusted partner to Atlassian, monday.com, AWS, GitLab and many more. Our expert consultancy aligns strategy, platforms, and people with powerful tailored solutions that redefine how work is delivered and achieve sustained business outcomes. Experts in cloud, service management, work management, DevOps, agile, and AI, we are the pioneer brand of The Adaptavist Group, a family of companies whose team spans over 1,000 employees, with a 22,000+ customer base representing more than half the Fortune 500. We combine the best talent, technology, and processes to make it easier for our customers to excel–today and tomorrow.
