Contributed by Brian Matthews, Head of Services Strategy & Development – Modern Workspace, CDW Canada
Artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping nearly every aspect of our lives and nowhere is this shift more evident than in the workplace. According to CDW Canada’s 2025 Modern Workspace Report, the adoption of AI tools across Canadian workplaces has surged, with 50% of office employees now using AI for work tasks, up from 33% in 2024. This rapid increase highlights both employees’ eagerness to experiment with AI and a gap in governance, as many continue using public tools without formal-use policies or training in place.
From an organizational standpoint, IT decision-makers are also getting on board, with half (50%) reporting the integration of AI tools, which is up from 35% in 2024. Both the implementation and the use of AI tools in the workplace are transforming how Canadians work, with employees reporting enhanced speed, creativity and productivity, but not without challenges.
Challenges on the road to AI adoption
As AI tools become integrated into daily workflows, employees using work-approved AI tools report higher efficiency and improved output quality. In addition to these benefits, employees using natural language processing (NLP) tools, like Microsoft Copilot or Grammarly, report that the tools allow them to focus on more creative and strategic tasks instead of repetitive work that can be easily automated.
Beyond efficiency, AI is also proving to help foster employee well-being, with users in AI-enabled workplaces saying it boosts engagement and improves work-life balance.
Despite increased adoption, employees and organizations face significant challenges stemming from unregulated AI use and limited organizational guidance. The report found 60% of employees expressing concerns around its impact and the potential for overdependence.
These findings suggest that the adoption and development of AI technology is growing at a faster pace than organizations are implementing training and policies. This can create challenges for organizational implementation as employees may refrain from adopting or learning how to use the technology, leading to gaps in the skills required to integrate AI into workplaces and processes.
For example, the rapid integration of generative AI (GenAI) models into workplace functions or industry processes, such as assistant chatbots and software development, may outpace employee upskilling. CDW Canada’s 2025 Canadian Cybersecurity Study highlighted a lack of the skills andresources needed to operationalize these models, and organizations are identifying this as a key barrier to GenAI development, further highlighting the need for formal employee training or upskilling.
Organizations in the early phases of AI adoption are also pointing to regulatory compliance and data privacy issues as barriers, with 63% of businesses from the Canadian Cybersecurity Study citing these barriers as a concern or obstacle limiting AI integration. This reflects a gap between the eagerness for AI adoption and the need to adhere to the ethical usage of AI.
The rapid rise and global adoption of AI are reshaping how we work, demanding that organizations and their employees evolve alongside it. With AI driving greater productivity and innovation, Canadian organizations without a strong framework for integrating the technology risk being left behind.
How to keep pace with evolving technology
The future of work in Canada is undeniably AI-powered, but AI adoption without structure can limit an organization’s progress. Responsible AI use and compliance must remain top priorities to ensure safe and ethical implementation.
Achieving a balance between innovation and regulation demands the right structures and support systems. When organizations provide clear policies and training, employees develop greater trust and confidence in leveraging AI tools effectively.
Despite this, most organizations aren’t engaging third-party experts to support AI implementation processes, highlighting a missed opportunity for organizations that are navigating the complexities of AI adoption in their workplace.
Third-party partners play a pivotal role in the following aspects:
• Designing AI governance frameworks
• Offering customized employee training
• Ensuring secure and compliant integration
• Enhancing scalability as per business requirements
• Monitoring and optimizing the workplace environment
With the expertise of external partners, organizations can build trust, reduce risk and unlock the full value of their AI investments, while ensuring responsible deployment and use of these tools.
As CDW Canada’s 2025 Modern Workspace research shows, regulated and responsible AI adoption not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also drives employee confidence, creativity and engagement. In a digital-first workplace, organizations that invest in trusted expertise and AI governance will gain an edge over their competitors.
