AI Agents: Don't Call Them Boss

Workday, a global provider of an AI platform for people, finance and agent management, has published the results of a global study: "AI Agents Are Here - But Don't Call Them Boss". The key finding: while AI agents are becoming increasingly accepted in everyday working life, employees want clear boundaries.

75% of employees feel comfortable with AI agents supporting them, recommending new skills or making tasks more efficient. However, only 30 percent accept direct guidance from AI - and only 24 percent want agents to act in the background without them knowing it. This clearly shows that AI is seen as a co-pilot, not a commander.

The study also shows that experience creates trust: while only 36% of those who are just testing AI agents trust that they will be used responsibly, this figure rises to 95% for advanced users. Productivity remains a double-edged sword: although almost 90 percent expect efficiency gains through AI, just as many are concerned about increasing pressure to perform (48 percent), less critical thinking (48 percent) and decreasing human interaction (36 percent).

Workday therefore emphasizes the importance of a conscious introduction that focuses on the well-being and empowerment of employees. The distribution of roles is also clear: employees do not see AI agents as equal colleagues. They are most trusted in areas such as IT support and skills development, while sensitive topics such as hiring, finance or legal continue to require human oversight.

The study sees great potential in the financial sector in particular. In view of a shortage of skilled workers, 76% of financial employees expect AI agents to be able to close bottlenecks. Applications such as forecasting, reporting and fraud detection are considered particularly promising here. "We are entering a new era of work where AI can partner and complement human guidance," says Kathy Pham, Vice President AI at Workday. "But trust can only be built if we put people at the center and deal with AI transparently."

The survey is based on a global survey of 2950 executives and IT decision-makers in North America, APAC and EMEA, conducted by Hanover Research in May/June 2025 on behalf of Workday. Companies that want to exploit the potential of AI agents must define clear boundaries, create transparency and prioritize human empowerment - this is the only way to create a working world in which humans and AI create added value together.