AI boosts productivity, yet managers face new challenges

A Nielsen survey of 1,700 senior managers across seven countries reveals AI tools are boosting productivity but creating challenges for managers. Over half reported difficulty evaluating employee work due to AI-generated content, making it hard to distinguish human and machine contributions. Nearly half now spend more time reviewing and guiding teams. Michal Miller Levi, head of market research at Monday.com, noted AI is evolving faster than organizational processes can adapt, causing managerial struggles. 46% use AI to inform performance decisions, raising bias concerns as models can replicate human biases from training data. The report highlights a growing need for governance as companies manage expanding AI tools, with 58% expecting to oversee more AI agents than human employees next year. The survey also found 78% of managers have revised employee assessments, emphasizing skills like prompt creation and task delegation. However, reliance on AI for reviews poses risks, as LLMs may introduce new biases. Levi emphasized companies have yet to address these issues effectively, underscoring the shift from AI as a productivity tool to a governance challenge. As AI adoption accelerates, managers are increasingly tasked with balancing innovation with control, navigating an evolving landscape of tools and responsibilities.