That’s the takeaway from Wrike’s new global study, The Age of Connected Intelligence, which surveyed 1,000 knowledge workers worldwide. The findings reveal a paradox: AI adoption is soaring, yet the tools meant to improve productivity often operate in isolation, creating new inefficiencies instead of solving old ones.
The report lands as enterprises prepare 2026 budgets and explore “agentic AI”—autonomous assistants designed to boost workflows. But Wrike’s data suggests that without integration and shared context, organizations risk replicating the very silos AI promised to eliminate.
“Employees are quickly adapting to the AI-driven workplace, but now they’re looking for smarter, connected tools that bring clarity to their workflows,” said Thomas Scott, CEO of Wrike. “Connected intelligence means fewer silos, tighter workflows, and removing the friction that stands in the way of great work.”
AI Everywhere, But Workflows Still Apart
Wrike’s data underscores how deeply AI has penetrated daily operations—82% of employees now use AI on the job, and more than half interact with one or two tools weekly.
Yet, the majority say those systems don’t communicate effectively:
- 96% believe connected AI tools that share context would be valuable.
- 51% say such integration would transform how they work.
The message is clear: adoption isn’t the problem—connection is. Employees want AI that understands not just tasks, but context across tools, teams, and workflows.
That aligns with a broader enterprise shift toward “agentic intelligence”—AI systems that collaborate across platforms rather than acting as isolated chatbots or copilots.
The Shadow AI Problem
High enthusiasm hasn’t been matched by clear strategy. When companies fail to formalize their AI approach, employees improvise—and that’s giving rise to what Wrike calls “shadow AI.”
The study found:
- 42% of employees use AI tools not approved by their company.
- 20% say their organization hasn’t officially rolled out any AI tools.
- 15% aren’t sure which AI solutions are sanctioned at all.
Rather than rebellion, this reflects a vacuum of structure. Workers see the productivity potential, but without governance, training, and policy, AI experimentation becomes fragmented and risky.
“Employees want structure, not restrictions,” the report notes. “They’re asking for guidance that helps them use AI confidently and responsibly.”
Leadership Lag: Vision Without Integration
While most organizations are experimenting with AI, few have matured into fully integrated operations.
- 46% say their company is “making progress” with AI.
- Only 27% describe adoption as “running smoothly.”
- Fewer than half have company-wide AI training or role-specific policies.
The gap isn’t enthusiasm—it’s alignment. Teams want leadership to connect strategy, systems, and people through unified platforms and consistent education.
As Wrike’s research shows, AI’s value is capped by fragmentation: disconnected workflows, unintegrated systems, and a lack of shared context.
Connected Intelligence: The Next Enterprise Frontier
Wrike’s report introduces a new framework it calls “connected intelligence”—AI that operates across the organization’s digital ecosystem rather than in isolated pockets.
According to the data:
- 95% of workers would delegate at least one task to an AI agent today.
- 90% say it would be valuable if those agents could coordinate across multiple tools.
That’s not hypothetical; it’s a signal of where enterprise AI must go next.
“The race isn’t just to adopt AI,” said Scott. “It’s to connect it. Organizations that invest in unified platforms, comprehensive training, and integrated workflows will separate themselves from competitors still struggling with fragmented tools and shadow AI risks.”
Wrike argues that connected intelligence is the foundation of the next phase of enterprise transformation—where automation becomes orchestration and AI becomes a system-wide collaborator.
Why It Matters
AI adoption in the enterprise has reached its “iPhone moment.” Everyone’s using it—but most haven’t built the ecosystem that makes it truly powerful.
If disconnected AI defined the 2020s, connected AI will define the 2030s. The companies that succeed won’t just deploy assistants—they’ll connect them, giving every department access to the same context, data, and intelligence layer.
Wrike’s message to enterprises is blunt: AI alone doesn’t fix fragmentation; integration does.
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