Artificial intelligence makes employees more productive, but companies are barely benefiting from it. This is shown by Atlassian’s AI Collaboration Report 2025, for which 12,000 office workers and 180 managers worldwide were surveyed. While individual productivity increases by an estimated 33 percent, only three percent of companies are recording significant efficiency gains.

Daily AI use has doubled in the past year, according to the study. Surveyed employees report saving an average of 1.3 hours per day through AI tools. More than half (51 percent) now prefer to turn to an AI rather than a colleague when they need information. And in 74 percent of companies, managers actively encourage AI use—up from 60 percent the previous year.

However, despite increased individual efficiency, the hoped-for breakthroughs at the company level are not materializing, according to the study. The reason: Teams are increasingly working in isolation in silos, and the many AI tools are causing confusion rather than clarity. 37 percent of managers report that their teams were already overwhelmed by AI use or wasted time. Companies that focus solely on individual productivity are also 16 percent less likely to achieve real innovation.

Gap Between Managers and Employees

At the management level, there is a significant perception gap: managers are 5.6 times more likely to believe that AI helps in solving complex problems. For example, while 82 percent of marketing managers believe their teams are already using AI for content creation, only 56 percent of the employees concerned confirm this. Furthermore, only ten percent of managers expect significant job losses due to AI automation.

According to Atlassian, the issue is not a lack of technology but a lack of connectivity. If AI is only used to complete individual tasks faster instead of connecting teams and knowledge, it reinforces existing inefficiencies. This interpretation by Atlassian is not surprising, as the company itself offers tools for connectivity.

Finally, the study estimates that it could cost Fortune 500 companies up to $98 billion annually if they focus exclusively on individual productivity. The key lies in clear structures, better coordination, and a shared vision for AI use. All results can be found in the AI Collaboration Report 2025.

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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.