In a survey of more than 16,400 office workers across 16 countries, Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey finds that 30% of employees now qualify as AI Power Users, employees who regularly use AI tools in both their professional and personal lives. These workers report spending less time working alone, more time learning, and having stronger team relationships than their peers.
Rather than replacing human interaction, AI appears to be reshaping the workday in ways that amplify it.
“We often assume that more technology means less connection,” said Janet Pogue McLaurin, Global Director of Workplace Research at Gensler. “But our data tells a different story. The employees most embedded in AI workflows are also the ones most engaged in learning and have better team relationships. That shift signals a new and important role for the workplace.”
The 2026 survey builds on a dataset of nearly 125,000 respondents collected across two decades, offering one of the most comprehensive longitudinal views of how work is evolving globally.
AI Is Reshaping the Workday — And Making Work More Collaborative
AI power users report a meaningful shift in how they structure their time. Compared to late adopters, AI power users spend less time working alone (37% of their workweek versus 42%) and more time learning (12% versus 8%) and socializing (11% versus 9%).
As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows, what grows in its place is distinctly human: more time for deeper reflection, creative problem-solving, mentorship, and developing new skills. This evolution increases the importance of environments that support focus and connection rather than diminishing them.
The findings suggest that AI adoption and workplace strategy cannot be viewed separately. As digital tools transform how work gets done, the physical workplace must evolve alongside them.
The Office Is Not Going Anywhere
Despite years of predictions about the decline of the office, workplace attendance has stabilized. Employees now spend 55% of their typical workweek in the office, with 18% working from home and 26% in locations such as coworking spaces, client sites, or while traveling.
Notably, when asked about their ideal setup, employees said they want to spend even more time in the office than they currently do — a clear signal that demand for in-person work remains strong when the environment supports it.
The Gap Between What People Need and What They Have
The survey also surfaces a persistent frustration: workplaces are not keeping pace with how people actually work. Employees spend 39% of their time working alone and 27% collaborating in person. Yet two-thirds report “hacking” their workspace to compensate for workspace performance gaps. One in four employees have resorted to DIY fixes for ergonomics, temperature, or visual privacy, while meeting space availability and noise remain unresolved challenges.
Underperforming environments are not minor inconveniences. Employees working in high-performing environments are significantly more likely to say their workplace enables their best work, that they feel valued by their organization, and that they want to stay. Those outcomes do not happen by accident.
As AI reshapes what work looks like, the physical environment matters more, not less. The organizations that invest in spaces supporting focus, learning, and connection will be better positioned to unlock the full potential of the people and their technology investments.
Download Gensler’s Global Workplace Survey 2026 to learn about how AI adoption is shifting workplace experiences, spaces, and expectations for the future.
