Workers are interested in creative AI tools. But hardly any are using them

Artificial intelligence is changing how people view creativity in the workplace. While some leaders have touted the technology as improving the creative process at their companies, there are broader concerns about outsourcing the creative process to AI.

This week, an Adobe survey revealed that 90% of workers want to use creative AI tools at work, but only 9% actually report implementing any in their workflow. Adobe defined creative AI as tools that are applied to visual or imaginative tasks, like image and video generation, designing graphics, brainstorming ideas, and creative writing. 

The self-reported survey pulled from 1,002 full-time U.S. employees who use AI at work at least once a week, across industries like finance, healthcare, retail, education, and more. 

According to the survey results, there seems to be a strong interest in creative AI tools, but daily use does not necessarily reflect that enthusiasm in real life. Instead, respondents said they mainly use AI on technical tasks, like summarizing documents, analyzing data, and researching topics.

Adobe also found that 72% of workers surveyed believe AI could potentially make them more creative at work. For those who already do use creative AI tools, 73% said those tools improve their ability to relay complex ideas. 

Still, employees estimated they spend an average of 7.5 hours per week on tasks that could potentially be enhanced by creative AI tools. And another one in three workers said they would like to use AI for image and video generation, but don’t.

There could be a few reasons for the disconnect, according to the survey respondents. 

Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said they feel unsure about how creative AI can apply to their job. Some 29% reported a lack of training or resources and unclear company policies as contributors to their lack of use of the tools, while others noted difficulty integrating AI into their workflows (27%) and the cost of AI tools (26%) as factors.

AI adoption also varies by industry. Those employed in the tech and innovation sector are most likely to say their company is ahead of the adoption curve, while those working in education are more likely to feel they’re falling behind.

Other studies have documented how employees are using AI at work.

In a recent Gallup poll, 47% of U.S. employees said their organization has adopted AI tools to improve productivity, efficiency, or quality—up from 41% in the previous quarter. More than half of U.S. workers polled (52%) said they use AI in their role, with 30% using it a few times a week or more, and 15% using it daily. The most common AI uses reported are writing and editing (51%), search or research (49%), and general assistance or problem-solving (39%). Just 17% of AI users polled by Gallup reported using it for image, video, or audio generation.

The biggest gap between employee enthusiasm and real-world execution may have to do with the infrastructure around it. Employees responding to the Adobe survey revealed a few action items that could help them increase their use of creative AI—like being offered examples of how it can be used in their roles, better integration, employer-provided training, and more assurance about data privacy.

Still, companies that do embed AI tools in tasks like brainstorming ideas, creative writing, or image generation will likely have to weigh any creativity gains with the risk of overreliance—and not replacing human critical thinking skills that drive innovation.