Everyday AI, as well as digital employee experience (DEX), have been forecast to reach mainstream adoption in less than two years, according to Gartner, the technological research and consulting firm.

“Everyday AI” can be surmised as the artificial intelligence technologies and products that can be used to augment daily business operations and tasks. Meanwhile, “digital employee experience” is how employees interact with the digital tools while at work, and organisational efforts to improve that experience.

“Everyday AI promises to remove digital friction, by helping employees write, research, collaborate and ideate,” further explained Matt Cain, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner.

“It is a core part of DEX, which is a concentrated effort to remove digital friction and improve workforce digital dexterity, which itself is one of the key factors that will drive organisational prosperity through 2030,” he added.

2024 has been a critical year for digital workplace application leaders, as the focus on hybrid and remote work dwindles and the need for a strategic concentration on everyday AI rises.

As indicated by the research firm’s Hype Cycle for Digital Workplace Applications, 2024, everyday AI is on the Peak of Inflated Expectations. This phase is characterised by the fact that, while there are many implementation-related success stories, there are also many failures. And while some firms take action due to proof-of-concept stories and media interest generating hype, many don’t.

Everyday AI “Crucial” For Enhancing Workforce Productivity
As technology vendors seek ways to improve productivity among workers that go beyond traditional application and feature enhancements, Gartner suggests they can look towards everyday AI.

On top of productivity benefits, the technology can provide new marketable offerings such as tools to help workers find and synthesise relevant information, answer questions more comprehensively, and produce work artefacts more easily.

“Everyday AI will become more sophisticated, moving from services that, for example, can sort and summarise chats and email messages to services that can write a report with minimal guidance,” said Adam Preset, VP analyst at Gartner.

“In many ways, everyday AI is the future of workforce productivity.”

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An Emphasis On Organisational DEX Strategy
Nearly all employees are becoming digital employees, as they spend more time utilising and working with technology than ever before.

Because of this, organisations should have a strategy to measure and improve DEX to attract and retain talent, increase employee engagement, and maximise discretionary effort and intent-to-stay, Gartner recommends.

Business leaders are currently looking for guidance on how technology can help boost productivity and organisational alignment. DEX can emphasise best practices that boost digital dexterity, attract and retain talent, and help employees deliver against business outcomes.

As it stands, DEX is in the Trough of Disillusionment on the research firm’s Hype Cycle, meaning that interest is waning as experiments and implementations fail to deliver.

However, to increase the appeal and relevance around DEX, Gartner advises that business leaders should take a holistic approach across IT and non-IT partners to build a meaningful environment that empowers employees to adopt new ways of working.