AI Is Raising Expectations, Not Reducing Managerial Work

By AMA Staff

AI is becoming a more urgent part of work for both managers and employees.

In AMA’s 2026 Management Survey, employees identified AI-driven learning and tasks as the third most urgent new part of their role. Respondents demonstrated a 63% increase in the urgency of AI adoption.

Managers also reported that supervising AI-driven tasks has become a more urgent part of their role.

The survey asked managers how they are using AI and how it is affecting their work. Thirty-six percent said they use AI to handle routine or administrative work. Another 36% said they have spent more time in the past year reviewing AI outputs.

AI is also changing how managers delegate and make decisions. Thirty-one percent said their use of AI has changed the types of tasks they delegate to employees. Thirty percent said they rely more on AI-generated data and insights when making a decision.

Managers did not indicate that they use AI to make decisions for them. They continue to exercise their own judgment when considering possible courses of action.

AI Is Changing Productivity Expectations

One of the clearest changes involves expectations for employee output.

Forty-one percent of managers said using AI has increased their expectations regarding the volume of work employees should be able to complete in a given amount of time.

That finding suggests that AI is affecting more than the way tasks get done. It is also shaping managers’ expectations about productivity.

As employees use AI to support their work, managers are deciding what work should be delegated and how AI-generated outputs should be evaluated. That creates additional management work.

Managers Are Spending More Time Reviewing AI Outputs

The survey also found that 36% of managers are spending more time reviewing AI outputs. That review requires judgment.

Managers have to consider whether an AI-generated output is useful and whether it fits the situation. They also have to decide how much weight to give AI-generated information when making a decision.

The 2026 findings reinforce a pattern AMA identified in its 2025 research. Managers continue to describe making decisions and solving problems as major parts of their roles.

AI has added another source of information for managers to evaluate.

AI Is Shifting Managerial Work

The survey findings suggest that AI is shifting managerial work rather than eliminating it.

Managers are using AI for routine and administrative tasks. They are also spending more time reviewing AI outputs and using AI-generated information to support decisions. The final decision still rests with the manager.

That means critical thinking remains an important part of the job. Managers still need to weigh alternatives and determine what action to take.

As AI becomes more common in the workplace, managers may spend more of their time evaluating information and applying judgment to situations where the answer is not obvious.

The work may look different. The need for sound management judgment remains.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are managers using AI at work?

Thirty-six percent of managers surveyed said they use AI to handle routine or administrative work. Managers also reported using AI-generated data and insights to support decisions and changing the types of tasks they delegate to employees.

Are managers spending more time reviewing AI-generated work?

Yes. Thirty-six percent of managers said they have spent more time in the past year reviewing AI outputs.

Is AI increasing expectations for employee productivity?

Yes. Forty-one percent of managers said using AI has increased their expectations regarding the amount of work employees should be able to complete in a given amount of time.

How urgent is AI adoption for employees?

Employees identified AI-driven learning and tasks as the third most urgent new part of their role. Survey respondents demonstrated a 63% increase in the urgency of AI adoption.

Are managers using AI to make decisions?

Managers reported using AI-generated data and insights to support decision making. They did not indicate that they use AI to make the decisions themselves.

Why does critical thinking still matter for managers using AI?

Managers still have to review AI outputs, consider alternative courses of action, and make the final decision. AI provides additional information, but managers remain responsible for applying their own judgment.

Is AI reducing managerial work?

AMA’s survey findings suggest that AI is shifting managerial work. Managers are using AI to handle some routine tasks while spending more time reviewing outputs and applying judgment to AI-supported decisions.