AI in the workplace: A report for 2025

Abstract

AI is redefining the workplace by amplifying human creativity and efficiency through large language models and generative AI. McKinsey’s survey shows that although nearly all companies are investing in AI, only a small fraction are mature in adopting and scaling AI effectively. Employees currently wield AI tools more extensively than leadership expects, and they seek greater training and support. Amid rapid AI capability growth—spanning reasoning, agentic actions, and multimodal processing—business leaders face the challenge of balancing innovation speed with risk management, including data security and ethical use. The report identifies strong leadership and clear AI vision as essential for enterprises to maximize AI’s productivity gains while progressing toward AI maturity. Millennials play a crucial role as AI champions and change agents within organizations. The report ends with practical leadership imperatives for integrating AI thoughtfully into workflows to leverage its transformative power responsibly.