Key Takeaways:

• Gallup finds employees are twice as likely to use AI frequently when their manager supports it.
• Many employees resist AI because they don’t see its relevance or lack clear training and policies.
• Manager-led adoption strategies—clear communication, role-based training, and active championing—help AI become useful rather than theoretical.
• Live industry events offer a unique way for managers and teams to learn, network, and see AI’s real-world impact together.
• Events such as ITEXPO and its co-located AI Agent Event and Generative AI Expo provide hands-on opportunities to explore the autonomous enterprise in action.

As organizations race to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, many find that the biggest barrier isn’t technology—it’s people. Gallup’s recent workplace research highlights a critical insight: employees who feel supported by their manager in using AI are more than twice as likely to use it frequently. In companies where leaders translate strategy into daily practice, adoption rates and perceived value soar. Yet only 28% of employees say their managers actively support their use of AI tools.

This gap has real consequences. While firms are quick to invest in new software, measurable returns remain elusive. A 2025 MIT NANDA study found that just 5% of organizations report meaningful ROI from their generative AI investments. Gallup’s findings echo that pattern: widespread access doesn’t automatically lead to effective use. For most workers, AI still feels disconnected from their day-to-day responsibilities.

The Manager’s Role in Bridging the AI Gap

According to Gallup, four practices drive stronger AI engagement. First, communicating a clear strategy helps employees see AI’s connection to company goals. Second, managers must champion adoption by modeling use and linking tools to specific tasks. Third, providing role-based training ensures that AI supports productivity rather than disruption. Finally, setting clear policies gives employees confidence to experiment safely.

When these elements align, employees are far more likely to find value. In companies where managers actively support their team’s use of AI, workers are 6.5 times more likely to say AI tools are useful and nearly nine times more likely to say AI helps them do what they do best every day.

These are powerful multipliers, but they don’t happen in isolation. Encouragement from leadership must be coupled with environments that make AI tangible. One effective way to do this is through live, in-person learning experiences.

Why Live Learning Matters

In an era dominated by remote collaboration, bringing teams together at live industry events may seem optional—but research suggests it’s a catalyst for real adoption. Live events expose teams to practical applications, peer discussions, and the energy of shared discovery that digital briefings can’t replicate.

Managers who send employees to events focused on AI and automation help turn abstract strategy into something their teams can see, test, and question directly. It’s not just about attending sessions—it’s about giving staff the chance to compare solutions, ask experts about real use cases, and connect with peers solving similar problems.

Face-to-face interaction also builds alignment. When managers and employees attend together, they return with a shared language and vision. That collective understanding accelerates implementation and reinforces a culture of curiosity rather than compliance.

The Value of Industry Events in Building the Autonomous Enterprise

Events such as ITEXPO—alongside its co-located AI Agent Event and Generative AI Expo—bring these concepts to life. They focus on the evolution of the autonomous enterprise, where organizations integrate intelligent systems not just to automate tasks but to augment human decision-making.

These conferences offer educational sessions on topics like responsible AI use, real-world deployments of AI agents, and how generative models are reshaping communications, customer experience, and operations. More importantly, they provide networking opportunities where managers can learn from peers who have successfully introduced AI within their organizations.

While these gatherings showcase technology, their deeper purpose lies in human connection—something Gallup’s research shows is central to change adoption. Seeing new tools in action helps employees visualize relevance; meeting innovators and practitioners helps managers gain insights on implementation pitfalls and success factors.

Turning Insight Into Action

Gallup’s findings serve as a reminder that technology investment without leadership support risks stalling progress. Employees need clarity, training, and trust before AI becomes a natural part of their work. Managers provide that bridge—but they also need opportunities to learn and model behavior themselves.

By investing in live professional development experiences, leaders can accelerate both understanding and adoption. Whether through workshops, networking sessions, or exposure to emerging technologies, these events help transform curiosity into competence. The outcome is a workforce that not only uses AI but sees it as an ally in doing their best work.

Organizations that prioritize manager engagement and experiential learning might be the ones that move beyond access to measurable impact. For companies navigating the road to an autonomous enterprise, the lesson is clear: innovation begins not with machines, but with people who are supported, informed, and inspired to use them.

See you at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, Feb 10-12, 2026 Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Aside from his role as CEO of TMC and chairman of ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW Feb 10-12, 2026, Rich Tehrani is CEO of RT Advisors and a Registered Representative (investment banker) with and offering securities through Four Points Capital Partners LLC (Four Points) (Member FINRA/SIPC). He handles capital/debt raises as well as M&A. RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.

The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors.

The views and opinions expressed above are those of the participants. While believed to be reliable, the information has not been independently verified for accuracy. Any broad, general statements made herein are provided for context only and should not be construed as exhaustive or universally applicable.

Portions of this article may have been developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which may have contributed to ideation, content generation, factual review, or editing