New research reveals how AI is reshaping work in Australia and New Zealand

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved quickly from the margins to centre stage in business strategy. Across the Australia and New Zealand momentum is building – Adobe’s 2025 AI and Digital Trends report shows 29% of surveyed organisations are now actively using or trialling generative AI, up from 14% in 2024.

However, the conundrum lies not in the adoption of AI, but in how to turn it into meaningful business value. Our 16th Annual Pulse of Talent study offers fresh insight for HR leaders into how that journey is unfolding in the region.

AI at the crossroads of people and technology

AI sits at a unique intersection. On one side lies the promise of productivity, better insight, and innovation, and on the other lies the reality of change, disruption, and unanswered questions for people on the ground. In ANZ, we’re seeing this dynamic clearly. At a time when many organisations rush toward AI, success is increasingly defined not by the technology alone but by the people who use it.

What’s holding back AI ROI in ANZ?

Our ANZ data highlights three recurring barriers: 

• Training and enablement: Sixty-one percent of ANZ workers said developing AI skills is somewhat or very important, but only 16% report receiving AI training in the past year.
• Transition support: While 82% of executives believe in reskilling talent impacted by automation, only 19% of respondents said their employer offers such a program. For many, the AI era feels like change is happening to them, rather than with them.
• Trust, transparency, and governance: Even as AI gains traction, employees still raise ethical, fairness, and transparency concerns. Data and governance also remain a key issue in ANZ, with  82% of surveyed executives reporting that fragmented or siloed data limits their ability to deliver real-time personalisation, while our survey shows that only 29% of organisations appear to have dedicated AI governance or ethics accountability in place.

These aren’t just tech issues. They’re people issues. Without closing these gaps, the risk is that AI becomes more of a disruption than a differentiator.

Adoption patterns: Optimism vs. practical reality

In ANZ, 58% of our survey respondents feel more optimistic about AI’s potential than a year ago. And 69% agree that AI can help people do the work they’re meant to do.

But even as enthusiasm runs high, the reality is more measured. Many AI efforts remain limited to automating administrative tasks, not yet elevating strategic workforce planning or talent evolution. The gap between ambition and operational readiness remains noticeable.

Turning ambition into action

How do today’s organisations transform their AI ambition into action? Focusing on specific and strategic use cases is the key to achieving AI ROI. 

• Learning: Of the ANZ executives we surveyed, 70% said their organisation is realisng significant or transformational value by using AI to recommend new learning/training opportunities to their employees.
• HR support: Seventy-four percent of executives said the same about achieving value by using AI to answer HR-related questions quickly.
• Internal mobility: When it comes to supporting their internal mobility initiatives, 74% said using AI to match employees with internal job opportunities has helped their organisation realize significant or transformational value.

These use cases reveal a powerful truth: AI’s greatest impact comes when it’s used to give people more space for work that matters to them and your organisation, helping people grow, connect, and contribute at higher levels.

The future of AI in ANZ

The latest CHRO Priorities report by Gartner shows that we are at the best time for businesses to harness AI to revolutionise HR and shape work in the human-machine era. AI isn’t just changing how we work. It’s shifting what work means. In Australia and New Zealand, there’s a compelling opportunity to lead in innovation and thoughtful, human-centered transformation: blending speed with purpose, automation with inclusion, and transformation with trust.

Download the global report

Learn more about our global Pulse of Talent findings and what they mean for your organisation’s AI journey. Download the full report to see how your organisation can turn workforce AI buzz into lasting business value.