Recent research conducted by Miro and Forrester reveals widespread concerns among global business leaders regarding the current deployment of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
The survey, which gathered insights from over 500 executives worldwide, indicates that approximately 75% of respondents believe that existing AI tools are primarily designed to support individual tasks rather than foster effective teamwork. This focus on individual productivity is seen as limiting collaboration and reducing the overall return on AI investments.
The findings underscore a strong consensus on the importance of collaboration for achieving organisational goals, with 89% of leaders emphasising the need to enhance teamwork. Nearly half of the respondents, 42%, consider collaboration critical to success. Digital tools based on visual and canvas-based interfaces are gaining prominence, with 79% reporting increased use and 43% viewing these solutions as essential to their daily workflows.
However, the emphasis on individual-focused AI is impacting business outcomes, with 39% of leaders noting that this approach is already affecting the ROI of AI initiatives. Challenges such as tool proliferation, workflow disruptions, and the creation of technology silos are cited as major hurdles. Additionally, 69% of respondents expressed frustration with the friction caused by switching between different AI and work tools, which hampers productivity.
The survey also highlights a strong demand for AI solutions designed to support teamwork. A significant 81% of leaders are interested in AI tools built around shared, canvas-based workspaces, and 82% want AI features that enhance collaboration by providing context-rich prompts, enabling teams to leverage all relevant information collectively during projects.
Despite these challenges, optimism remains high among business leaders regarding AI’s potential benefits. Over half believe AI can improve customer experience and operational efficiency, while 49% expect it to increase revenue, and 46% foresee faster realisation of value from AI investments. Many also see AI as a means to empower employees, with 54% anticipating that staff will have more time to focus on strategic tasks and 51% expecting further automation of repetitive manual work.
“There is tremendous potential for AI to support collaboration. But in the AI revolution, teamwork has been left behind. To be truly effective, AI should operate where teams work: supporting collaboration in the flow of work, informing decisions with full team context, and driving towards results faster. Embedding AI where teamwork happens achieves more than just improving productivity; it enables team- and organisation-wide collaboration, innovation, and transformation,” said Andrey Khusid, CEO and founder of Miro.
