AI Adoption Climbs 233% Globally with the Middle East Showing Similar Momentum, Report finds
AI usage among desk workers surges 233%, driving productivity, job satisfaction, and creative growth, especially among millennials in the Middle East.
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[Image source: Chetan Jha/MITSMR Middle East]
As AI continues to redefine the future of work, the Middle East finds itself at a pivotal intersection of digital transformation and workforce evolution. Regional organizations are increasingly exploring AI-driven tools to enhance operational efficiency and empower their employees, especially in sectors like finance, technology, and government where innovation is critical.
Against this tech empowered backdrop, Salesforce’s latest Slack Workforce Index offers timely and valuable insights into how AI is reshaping desk work globally, and how those changes are echoing across the region. Based on a survey of 5,000 desk workers worldwide, the report reveals a dramatic 233% increase in daily AI usage in just six months. What’s more, 60% of desk workers now say they use AI in some capacity, with 40% engaging directly with AI agents; tools designed to support complex knowledge work. This categorical shift has resulted in higher productivity, improved job satisfaction, and a stronger sense of connection at work.
“The surge in AI adoption is fundamentally reshaping the workplace,” said Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack. “As workers embrace AI with growing trust and confidence, businesses gain a clear opportunity to unlock greater productivity and innovation, while workers grow more confident and fulfilled.”
The research highlights a significant shift in how AI is used: 96% of workers have used AI to tackle tasks they previously lacked the skills to perform, and workers today are 154% more likely to turn to AI to enhance their creativity and strategic output—rather than just automate repetitive tasks.
“When it comes to workers and AI, the data shows us that seeing is believing,” said Lucas Puente, VP of Research at Slack. “As workers actually use and experiment with AI agents, their trust and enthusiasm in this technology grows – and we see them leveraging agents to unlock new skills and opportunities in their everyday work.”
The Middle East Mirror
Slack’s findings resonate deeply in the Middle East, where both private and public sector organizations are embracing AI to drive national digital agendas.
“What we see amongst organizations in the Middle East reflects the global research in Slack’s Workforce Index, with strong adoption of AI agents among workers, and particularly millennials,” said Mohammed Alkhotani, SVP and GM, Salesforce Middle East. “This is a positive development and is helping to enhance workers’ productivity and creativity. It is important for organizations to nurture this enthusiasm for AI and to ensure they have the right solutions and policies in place to ensure sustainable, long-term success with AI.”
AI By the Numbers: Global Trends That Resonate in the Region
- Daily AI usage is up 233% since November 2024.
- 60% of workers now use AI tools, and 40% use AI agents.
- 23% of workers have delegated tasks fully to AI agents.
- Workers using AI agents daily are 2x more likely to trust them with data protection, accuracy, and decision-making.
Millennials, surprisingly, lead the charge in AI adoption:
- 30% of Millennials say they deeply understand AI agents—outpacing Gen Z (22%).
- 68% use AI for strategic functions like drafting, summarizing, and ideation.
- Executives (43%) currently outpace senior managers (35%) and middle managers (23%) in daily AI use.
Crucially, AI is also changing the emotional experience of work. Daily AI users report a 246% higher sense of connection with colleagues and a 62% greater sense of belonging.
“Agentforce helps me work smarter, not just faster,” said Haley Gault, Senior Account Executive at Salesforce. “I use it to think more strategically, communicate more clearly, and approach every customer interaction with greater confidence. It’s changing how I work — and how I deliver for customers.”
Slack’s Workforce Index makes it clear: AI has arrived as a transformative force in the modern workplace. For Middle Eastern leaders, the message is timely—AI adoption is not only growing but proving to be a catalyst for innovation, skill development, and employee satisfaction. To stay ahead, organizations must align strategy, technology, and culture to fully unlock the benefits of AI-powered digital labor.
