Low barriers, high stakes : formal and informal diffusion of AI in the workplace

Melanie Arntz [Verfasser]; Baum, Myriam [Verfasser]; Brüll, Eduard [Verfasser]; Dorau, Ralf [Verfasser]; Hartwig, Matthias [Verfasser]; Matthes, Britta [Verfasser]; Meyer, Sophie-Charlotte [Verfasser]; Schlenker, Oliver [Verfasser]; Tisch, Anita [Verfasser]; Wischniewski, Sascha [Verfasser]

Low barriers, high stakes : formal and informal diffusion of AI in the workplace

bibb.id	784421
bibb.participation	BIBB-Mitarbeiter	de
bibb.publisherplace	München	de
dc.contributor.author	Melanie Arntz [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Baum, Myriam [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Brüll, Eduard [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Dorau, Ralf [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Hartwig, Matthias [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Matthes, Britta [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Meyer, Sophie-Charlotte [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Schlenker, Oliver [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Tisch, Anita [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.author	Wischniewski, Sascha [Verfasser]	de
dc.contributor.other	Ifo-Institut [Herausgebendes Organ]	de
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-30T13:42:40Z
dc.date.available	2026-01-30T13:42:40Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.description.abstract	“Artificial intelligence (AI) is diffusing rapidly in the workplace, yet aggregate productivity gains remain limited. This paper examines the dual diffusion of AI – through both formal, employer-led and informal, employee-initiated adoption – as potential explanation. Using a representative survey of nearly 10,000 employees in Germany, we document a high extensive but low intensive margin of usage: while 64 percent use AI tools, only 20 percent use them frequently. This diffusion is strongly skill-biased and depends less on establishment and regional characteristics. While formality is associated with more frequent usage, training, AI-based supervision, and higher perceived productivity gains, it does not broaden access. These patterns suggest that widespread informal usage can coexist with limited productivity effects when complementary investments and organizational integration lag behind.“ (authors’ abstract; BIBB-Doku)	de
dc.description.edition	December 2025	de
dc.description.statementofresponsibility	Melanie Arntz, Myriam Baum, Eduard Brüll, Ralf Dorau, Matthias Hartwig, Britta Matthes, Sophie-Charlotte Meyer, Oliver Schlenker, Anita Tisch, Sascha Wischniewski; ifo-Institut (Hrsg.)	de
dc.format.extent	1 Online-Ressource (28 Seiten)	de
dc.format.illustration	Illustrationen	de
dc.format.medium	Buch	de
dc.format.medium	Elektronische Ressource	de
dc.identifier.uri	https://bibb-dspace.bibb.de/jspui/handle/BIBB/784421
dc.language.iso	en	de
dc.rdacarrier.code	cr	de
dc.rdacarrier.source	rdacontent	de
dc.rdacarrier.term	Online-Ressource	de
dc.rdacontent.code	txt	de
dc.rdacontent.source	rdacontent	de
dc.rdacontent.term	Text	de
dc.rdamedia.code	c	de
dc.rdamedia.source	rdacontent	de
dc.rdamedia.term	Computermedien	de
dc.relation.ispartof	ifo Working Papers; 422
dc.source.uri	https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/WP-2025-422_Schlenker-etal_AI-Diffusion-in-the-Workplace.pdf (Volltext)	de
dc.subject.classification	G 2.2.1 Technologisierung	de
dc.subject.ddc	370	de
dc.subject.other	Arbeitswelt	de
dc.subject.other	Arbeitsplatz	de
dc.subject.other	Künstliche Intelligenz	de
dc.subject.other	Anwendung	de
dc.subject.other	Produktivitätsentwicklung	de
dc.subject.other	Arbeitnehmer	de
dc.subject.other	Befragung	de
dc.title	Low barriers, high stakes : formal and informal diffusion of AI in the workplace	de

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Low barriers, high stakes : formal and informal diffusion of AI in the workplace

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