A new global study reveals a growing divide in AI adoption between executives and the rest of the workforce. According to research commissioned by HR software company Dayforce and conducted from July 22 to August 6, 87% of executives use AI in their jobs, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of regular employees. The survey included about 7,000 professionals across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. Executives are also more likely than Gen Z workers—the youngest generation in the workforce—to use AI at work, with a 45% higher adoption rate. The gap extends beyond the office: 85% of executives reported using AI in their personal lives, compared to 67% of managers and 49% of employees. This suggests that those in leadership positions are not only more engaged with AI at work but are also more active in their personal use, often experimenting with the technology in ways that many frontline workers are not. The study highlights increasing tension in workplaces where leaders are pushing AI adoption while employees remain hesitant. At video game company Electronic Arts, for example, leadership has strongly encouraged staff to use AI for nearly every task. However, some employees have reported issues such as AI-generated code errors and hallucinations. Others are concerned that they are being asked to train AI models using their own creative work, with fears that AI could eventually reduce the need for human talent. The findings also show that executives are more reflective about the long-term impact of AI on their careers. A significant number said they would have chosen different career paths if they had known how AI would transform their roles. This self-awareness raises concerns about the direction of the current AI push from leadership. Dayforce’s report concludes that executives are adopting AI at a faster pace than any previous technological shift, but the rest of the workforce is struggling to keep up. To ensure a successful return on AI investments, the report urges leaders to support their teams with proper training and to focus on strategic, meaningful use cases rather than pushing AI for its own sake. Bridging the gap between leadership and employees is critical to building trust, driving productivity, and creating a sustainable AI-driven workplace.