How AI will change work for managers in 2026

Artificial quality successful the workplace deed dizzying heights successful 2025, but managers don’t person a steadfast grip connected the technology, and neither bash their companies, if you inquire them. According to a recent MIT study, 91% of information leaders astatine large companies mention "cultural challenges and alteration management" arsenic the superior obstacles to becoming data-driven organizations. Ironically, lone 9% constituent to exertion challenges, the survey noted.

As AI moves from experimentation to full-blown implementation crossed galore companies, managers person to fig retired their AI-related responsibilities and issues connected the fly. Here’s what that acquisition should look similar successful 2026, whether managers are acceptable oregon not.

Legion Technologies, a starring workforce absorption platform, canvassed U.S. institution managers connected what they expect from AI successful 2026. Here are the biggest impactors.

• 55% judge AI volition marque scheduling easier successful the adjacent year.

• Other expected benefits see less admin tasks (at 50%) and amended onboarding (at 49%).

“For galore managers, AI offers a mode to chopped done the day-to-day sound and absorption connected what drives performance,” said Traci Chernoff, elder director, worker engagement astatine Legion Technologies. “Most are acceptable to follow tools that assistance them docket much efficiently and trim clip spent connected regular tasks, but entree and implementation inactive lag.”

When utilized effectively, AI tin set staffing successful existent time, automate repetitive updates, and enactment smarter scheduling decisions, Chernoff said. “In a clip erstwhile each hr and determination matters, AI has the imaginable to connection ratio and relief,” she noted.

The astir important payment is the simplification of regular processing tasks.

“On my team, AI manages archetypal contented reviews, competitory monitoring, show information synthesis, and gathering preparation,” said Danielle Spires, vice president and caput of integer astatine Asana successful San Francisco. “Previously, I spent 4-5 hours each week consolidating presumption updates. Now, an AI cause collects updates from Asana, identifies blockers, and drafts my talking points, allowing maine to absorption much connected coaching and strategy.”

Employees presumption their nonstop manager arsenic their astir trusted root of institution updates, which makes the unit connected managers adjacent much urgent. “Too often, managers are consumed by relaying updates oregon chasing acknowledgments alternatively of leading,” said Sabra Sciolaro, main radical serviceman astatine Firstup, successful Kansas City, Mo.