Everyday AI and digital employee experience (DEX) are both predicted to achieve mainstream adoption within the next two years, according to Gartner, a leading technology research and consulting firm.
“Everyday AI” refers to artificial intelligence technologies and products designed to enhance daily business operations and tasks. In contrast, “digital employee experience” focuses on how employees engage with digital tools in the workplace and the efforts organizations make to improve that experience.
“Everyday AI promises to eliminate digital friction by assisting employees in writing, researching, collaborating, and generating ideas,” explained Matt Cain, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner.
“It is a central component of DEX, which is a dedicated effort to reduce digital friction and enhance workforce digital dexterity—a crucial factor that will drive organizational success through 2030,” he added.
The year 2024 has been pivotal for digital workplace application leaders as the emphasis on hybrid and remote work decreases, and the need for a strategic focus on everyday AI grows.
According to the research firm’s Hype Cycle for Digital Workplace Applications, 2024, everyday AI is currently at the Peak of Inflated Expectations. This stage is marked by numerous success stories of implementation, alongside many failures. While some companies take action due to proof-of-concept stories and media-generated hype, many remain hesitant.
Everyday AI “Crucial” for Enhancing Workforce Productivity As technology vendors explore ways to boost worker productivity beyond traditional application and feature improvements, Gartner suggests they should consider everyday AI.
Beyond productivity gains, everyday AI can offer new marketable solutions, such as tools that assist workers in finding and synthesizing relevant information, answering questions more comprehensively, and producing work artifacts with greater ease.
“Everyday AI will become increasingly sophisticated, evolving from services that can, for example, organize and summarize chats and email messages to those capable of writing a report with minimal guidance,” said Adam Preset, VP analyst at Gartner.
“In many respects, everyday AI represents the future of workforce productivity.”
As employees spend more time interacting with technology, nearly all are becoming digital employees.
Consequently, Gartner recommends that organizations develop strategies to measure and improve DEX to attract and retain talent, boost employee engagement, and maximize discretionary effort and intent-to-stay.
Business leaders are currently seeking guidance on how technology can enhance productivity and align organizations more effectively. DEX can highlight best practices that improve digital dexterity, attract and retain talent, and help employees achieve business objectives.
Currently, DEX is in the Trough of Disillusionment on the research firm’s Hype Cycle, indicating that interest is declining as experiments and implementations fail to meet expectations.
However, to enhance the appeal and relevance of DEX, Gartner advises business leaders to adopt a holistic approach that includes both IT and non-IT partners to create an environment that empowers employees to embrace new ways of working.
