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Key Takeaways Executives can declare AI mandatory, but without middle managers translating that mandate into actionable guidance, adoption often stalls.
The gap between what AI could do and what it actually does often comes down to a disconnect between available data and employee comfort using it.
Fear and ambiguity are slowing AI adoption. It’s on leaders to clarify how they plan to use AI in their business and reassure employees they’re not being replaced.
Word on the street right now is that the executives who see AI as just another tool are already behind. In an effort to stay ahead of the game, many are jump-starting wider company AI programs, embedding it into strategic decision-making and embracing the idea of a “digital teammate” that works alongside their employees. The problem is, while AI may be positioned at the center of boardroom conversations, that mindset isn’t consistently reaching the rest of the organization.
According to Slingshot’s Digital Work Trends Report, 86% of C-suite executives believe AI usage is required in their company operations, yet fewer than half (49%) of middle managers are reinforcing that expectation with their teams. This gap reveals a broader disconnect between executive ambition and day-to-day execution. AI may be a part of workplace strategy, but for many employees, it still feels optional and disconnected from how their performance is actually measured.
As CEO of Infragistics, I’ve seen firsthand how a strategy that is agreed upon by the executive board can lose weight when passed down the line if goals aren’t communicated to teams properly. Leaders invest in technology and have an image of how it will completely transform their company. But if those priorities aren’t transparently shared or woven into how teams actually work, the dream will never become reality.
Here are three reasons the AI mandate isn’t sticking — and what organizations can do to close the gap.
AI strategy is top-down, but adoption is bottom-up
Executives can declare AI mandatory, but without middle managers translating that mandate into actionable guidance, adoption often stalls.
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