According to a report released by Gartner on Wednesday, if enterprises have not yet developed a comprehensive and human-centric artificial intelligence strategy, their top AI talent may flow to better-prepared competitors as early as 2027.

The business analytics company surveyed more than 12,000 employees and managers in the first quarter of 2026 and found that half of enterprises lacking such a strategy may face the risk of losing top talent.

"The survey reveals that in the transition to an AI-driven workforce, most leaders mistakenly view basic access or adoption metrics as transformation success. This 'empowerment illusion' is masking risks and eroding return on investment," said Swagatam Basu, Senior Director Analyst in Gartner's HR business, in a statement.

For many enterprises, the key issue lies in how to measure AI success. Many executives evaluate it by the work hours saved through AI tools, but 19% of surveyed employees told Gartner that they did not save any time through AI. Gartner noted that this only indicates that enterprises should regard deep and diverse engagement with AI tools as a sign of AI success, rather than simple adoption rates.

Notably, enterprise AI tools are most accessible to management and executives, while regular employees remain "insufficiently covered in terms of support and guidance," Gartner said, which limits overall AI productivity. A Forrester report released earlier this year also pointed out that employees generally may not know how to use AI, and the research firm attributed this phenomenon to employers failing to provide a learning environment.

Gartner also noted that employees still feel anxious about job losses caused by AI.

"AI adoption is a cultural issue, not just a training issue; standard software training and technical learning do not improve employee sentiment or build trust," Gartner said in a press release.

A 2025 Mercer report stated that if leaders do not communicate about new tools, it may trigger trust issues among employees regarding workplace technology, leading to lower engagement with technology. However, a recent Microsoft report showed that organizations with clear AI usage rules, a supportive workplace culture, and encouraging talent practices will achieve greater returns from AI implementation.

"The most effective factors driving positive AI adoption are employees' confidence in their current and future roles, as well as transparent, ongoing communication about how AI will be used and its impact on work," Basu said.