A recent study from Slack’s Workforce Lab has identified five distinct AI personas that are shaping the future of work. The research, which surveyed 5,000 full-time desk workers across multiple countries, reveals how different types of employees are engaging with AI tools and the potential challenges companies face in onboarding them to an AI-powered workplace.
The personas—The Maximalist, The Underground, The Rebel, The Superfan, and The Observer—reflect varying degrees of AI engagement and highlight the importance of tailoring AI integration strategies.
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According to Christina Janzer, Senior Vice President of Research and Analytics at Slack, “The AI-powered future of work isn’t just about enterprises, it’s also about employees — and it’s redefining everything from careers to workplace culture. But to realize the promise of AI, companies need to make AI work for workers and bring everyone onboard The AI Team.”
AI adoption divides workforce
The research highlights stark differences in how workers feel about AI. Maximalists, who make up 30% of respondents, actively use AI multiple times a week, with 65% of them openly encouraging its use. Meanwhile, The Rebels (19%) resist AI, with 66% refusing to use it and 58% considering it a societal threat.
Meanwhile, The Underground, making up 20%, use AI frequently but remain quiet about it, and The Superfan, at 16%, are excited about AI but not yet applying it effectively. The Observers, also at 16%, are still cautious, with one-third showing an interest in developing AI skills.
Lori Castillo Martinez, Executive Vice President of Talent Growth & Development at Salesforce, emphasized the importance of personalized approaches to AI adoption, noting, “Workers across industries must learn how to work with AI or risk getting left behind.”
The findings underscore the growing divide between employees who are embracing AI and those who remain skeptical, posing both opportunities and challenges for employers looking to integrate AI into their operations.
