Heavy AI use meets productivity doubt in Singapore workplaces

Only 15% say that AI will possitively affect job responsibilities.

Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is rising across Singapore workplaces, but workers remain divided on whether it improves productivity, according to ADP Research’s People at Work 2026 report.

About 23% of workers in Singapore use AI nearly daily, while 56% use it at least multiple times a week, the report found. Globally, about 20% of workers report near-daily use, with roughly half using AI multiple times weekly.

Despite widespread use, confidence in its job impact remains limited. Only 15% of Singapore workers strongly agree that AI will positively affect their job responsibilities over the next year, based on 2025 survey responses cited in the report.

The perception gap is also visible globally. Whilst frequent AI users report higher engagement and lower negative stress than non-users, they are more likely to question their productivity.

Amongst daily users globally, 30% report feeling fully engaged at work. However, they are also four times more likely to feel less productive than non-users, suggesting higher usage does not consistently translate into perceived output gains.

In Singapore, AI adoption varies by job type. Knowledge workers show the highest optimism at 22%, compared with 11% among skilled task workers and 7% amongst repetitive task workers.

Usage is also spread across age groups, with workers aged 27 to 39 recording the highest daily usage at 25%, followed by those aged 40 to 54 at 23% and those aged 18 to 26 at 20%.

Globally, daily AI users report lower stress levels, with 11% reporting negative stress versus 23% of non-users. They are also more likely to report stronger team alignment and higher confidence in job security.

ADP Research chief economist Dr Nela Richardson said AI is reshaping how work is done and how employees experience work, adding that outcomes depend on how organisations integrate the technology into workflows and expectations.