With 82% of UK bosses stepping into management with no formal training, according to the Chartered Management Institute, the findings also raise questions about whether gaps in management training are shaping employees' perceptions of human leadership.
The appetite is strongest at the top of the organisation, not the bottom: nearly two-thirds of directors and above (64.0%) expect a productivity gain from an AI manager, against just 26.2% of entry-level employees. That optimism lines up with the market, as Gartner predicts that through 2026, 20% of organisations will use AI to flatten their structures, cutting more than half of current middle management roles.
Careerminds UK surveyed 600 UK employees in full-time employment on their attitudes to AI in the workplace and its impact on management.
Key findings:
- More than 1 in 3 UK employees (36.7%) say an AI manager would make them more productive, against 25.5% who say it would make them less productive.
- That optimism peaks at the top, as nearly 2 in 3 directors (64.0%) expect a gain, against 26.2% at entry level.
- Despite that, just 14.2% would choose AI over their line manager for feedback, while 74.2% still prefer their manager.
- Directors are also 3.2 times more likely than mid-level staff to want AI feedback (26.0% versus 8.0%).
“We shouldn’t confuse employees seeing potential productivity gains from AI with wanting technology to replace their managers altogether”, said Amanda Augustine, resident careers expert at Careerminds UK and a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC). “Middle managers are already feeling the squeeze, caught between growing expectations from senior leaders and the needs of their teams. AI may be able to ease some of that pressure by taking certain tasks off managers’ plates, but the feedback findings make it clear that employees still value human judgement, context and connection. The opportunity for employers is to use AI to help managers become more effective, not simply replace them”.
Full research findings can be found below:
- More than a third of UK employees think an AI manager would boost their productivity: A total of 36.7% say replacing their line manager with an AI system would increase their productivity, including 12.5% who expect a significant increase and 24.2% a slight one. Another 37.8% expect no change and 25.5% expect a decline. The split is even across gender, with 37.3% of men and 35.8% of women expecting a gain, though women are slightly more likely to expect a decline (28.0% versus 23.6%).
- That optimism rises the higher up the organisation you go: Nearly two-thirds of directors and above (64.0%) expect a productivity gain from an AI manager, including 28.0% who expect a significant one. That falls to 42.6% of senior employees, 38.5% of managers and 27.6% of mid-level employees, with entry-level staff the least convinced at 26.2%, half of whom (50.8%) expect no change at all.
- Even so, three in four UK employees still want a person delivering their feedback: Asked who they would rather receive performance feedback from, 74.2% chose their line manager, against 14.2% who would choose an AI system and 11.7% had no preference. Men are 1.5 times more likely than women to choose AI (16.6% versus 10.9%), and appetite falls with age: 18.2% of 25 to 34-year-olds would choose AI, against 8.9% of 55 to 64-year-olds. In fact, no one aged 61 or over chose AI.
- Positive attitudes towards AI management rise with both seniority and youth: directors and above are 3.2 times more likely than mid-level employees to prefer an AI system for feedback (26.0% versus 8.0%), while employees aged 25 to 34 are 3.5 times more likely than those aged 55 to 64 to expect a productivity gain from an AI manager (50.6% versus 14.4%).
“It’s not surprising to see younger employees showing greater confidence in AI, given how quickly these tools have become part of everyday working life”, Augustine said. “What’s more interesting is the divide by seniority. Senior leaders may be looking at AI through the lens of efficiency and decision-making, while employees earlier in their careers are more likely to think about what they need from a manager day to day, whether that’s guidance, development, reassurance or context. Those are areas where the human element still matters”.
Careerminds is a global workforce solutions provider delivering career transition, workforce design, and talent development to organisations worldwide. Our consumer career brands extend that reach, giving individuals AI-powered career tools and coaching at every stage of the career journey. Together, we combine technology, data, and human expertise to create a connected ecosystem that supports both workforce transformation and individual career success. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Amanda Augustine is the resident careers expert for Careerminds, career.io, and its suite of brands: resume.io, TopInterview, Jobrapido, Resume.ai, and others. As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), she has spent more than 20 years helping professionals improve their careers and land the right job sooner. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
