A Nielsen survey of 500 directors and millions of monday.com workflows reveals the surprising drivers, blockers, and anxieties shaping AI adoptionLondon, UK, 4 November 2025: monday.com, in partnership with Nielsen, the global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, today releases a report looking at AI adoption drivers, and emotions around usage.
The report, titled AI at Work: From Vision to Value, surveyed 500 directors across the US and UK, and paired that data with insights from millions of monday.com workflows to help get to the bottom of how AI is actually being used and adopted today.
AI has promised to radically change the future of work as we know it - but the full paradigm shift that it promised may not be happening right now. The data reveals that rather than an AI revolution, there's something more grounded happening, defined by real value rather than lofty vision. The report calls this the Operational Era of AI, where the tools that win are the ones that are easy to use and actually being put to work, not the flashy ones with no near-term ROI.
Here are some more key findings, and the full report is available to download here.
AI adoption drivers and blockers It's easy to say that AI in the workplace is on the rise, but the reasons driving that adoption are surprising. According to the Nielsen survey, directors cite speed (59%), accuracy (56%), and productivity (53%) as the top motivators for AI adoption, while innovation doesn't even crack the top five reasons.
However, there are still hurdles keeping directors from using AI more extensively at work, with data privacy and security concerns (40%) coming in as the top reason.
The research reveals interesting patterns in AI adoption across business sizes and industries. The sectors at the forefront of AI adoption and usage aren't the ones you'd expect. According to monday.com platform data, construction and real estate are leading in AI usage, while industries like tech and finance - traditionally seen as innovators - are lagging behind. And while some assumptions are that enterprises are AI power users due to their greater resources, the research shows a clear pattern that the smaller the company, the more heavily each employee uses it.
Inam Mahmood, General Manager, Nielsen EMEA, added: The research clearly defines a shift in thinking around artificial intelligence. The findings show that the focus for directors isn't on futuristic concepts of innovation,' but on the real, tangible value that AI is delivering today, in the form of speed, accuracy, and productivity. The data provides the necessary foundation for understanding this Operational Era of AI,' where the tools that succeed are the ones that seamlessly integrate into existing workflows and quickly prove their ROI.
There's messy feelings around AI For all the hype and leaders proclaiming confidently that AI is changing the world, there's a quieter emotion lurking beneath the surface: guilt.
According to the Nielsen survey, directors at enterprises are 2 more likely to worry about being judged or discredited for AI use compared to mid-sized companies, while older directors (35+) feel this significantly more than younger colleagues. AI adoption is emotionally layered, and the shift from viewing it as cutting corners to accepting it as a baseline isn't happening evenly.
When it comes to gender differences, another feeling surfaces: self-doubt. Although women are using tools like ChatGPT and Claude more than men (58% compared to 44%), the report reveals that they're also 80% more likely than men to say they only know a little' about AI.
AI tool sprawl is reshaping adoption AI sprawl is another problem. 76% of directors report constantly switching between multiple AI tools to get work done. Only 2% rely on a single solution.
These scattered AI stacks are creating friction and doubt. The more tools in play, the harder it becomes to answer basic questions, compounding data privacy concerns. In response, leaders are moving towards AI tools that they can actually trust and control. For some, this means a shift towards bringing AI in-house. Among companies currently using only external AI tools, 83% are either building internal solutions or planning to within the next year.
Assaf Elovic, Head of AI, monday.com, added: Nielsen's survey reveals that the next phase of AI adoption isn't just about functionality-it's about trust and integration. The widespread AI sprawl' is creating friction, compounding data privacy concerns, and fueling underlying emotional barriers like guilt and self-doubt. The data is clear: teams don't need more flashy solutions; they need fewer, more reliable tools that integrate seamlessly.
What's next The report states that 94% of directors now use AI at work; the tools are here, and adoption is happening. The next phase won't be about having more AI, but more about building and using AI people can trust, easily use, and turn to without guilt. The report predicts that the companies that figure out how to deliver will help define what the future of the workplace - AI's Operational Era - looks like.
About Nielsen Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their global audiences-now and into the future. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram).
About monday.com monday.com is a global software company that builds products people love to manage the core of their work. Our product suite can adapt to the needs of diverse industries and use cases within
