Germany among leaders in workplace AI use
HP research reports widespread use of autonomous AI systems, but also concerns about jobs and changing roles.
Almost half of German workers use AI agents at work, according to a new HP study. The study places Germany, after the United States, among the countries with the highest usage among the industrialised countries surveyed.
AI agents differ from ordinary chatbots because they do not just provide answers but can also carry out a series of actions. This might include gathering information, processing documents or completing steps in a business process. How independently such a system may act varies by organisation and application.
HP’s Work Relationship Index 2026 is based on an online survey of 19,506 office workers in fifteen countries. The survey was conducted between April and May 2026. HP reports that 47 per cent of all respondents worldwide use AI agents; coverage of the study cites 49 per cent for Germany.
The study measures self-reported use and is not an independent measurement of the number of AI systems operating in companies. The sample also consists of office workers and is not automatically representative of all workers, such as people in healthcare, construction, industry or transport.
According to HP, high adoption goes hand in hand with uncertainty. Workers who use AI agents are more likely to worry that their role will become harder to define or that they will be replaced by technology or colleagues with greater AI skills. This is an association within a survey, not proof that AI use causes that fear.
HP also reports that 59 per cent of knowledge workers use AI weekly or daily that has been made available through their work. Almost half say their organisation does not yet have a clear AI strategy. The study therefore focuses not only on productivity, but also on training, trust and how employers manage change.
For companies, the practical question is not only about acquiring an agent. They must also determine which data a system may use, when human approval remains necessary and who is responsible for errors. The HP study does not answer those governance questions.
The German result is therefore primarily a signal about pace and attitudes. According to this survey, AI agents are quickly becoming part of office work, while workers are simultaneously developing a greater need for training and clarity. Whether that combination leads to higher productivity or instead creates new risks requires research beyond a supplier-funded survey.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- HP surveyed 19,506 office workers in fifteen countries.
- According to HP, 47 per cent of all respondents use AI agents.
- A figure of 49 per cent is cited for Germany.
- The study measures self-reported use and is not an independent productivity measurement.
Left
Arguments AI at work should strengthen workers and should not be deployed one-sidedly to make labour cheaper. From this perspective, training, participation and protection against arbitrary automation are conditions for implementation.
Values Job security, agency and a fair distribution of productivity gains.
Consequences More rules and collective agreements may slow implementation, but could reduce the risks for workers.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach seeks controlled implementation: room for innovation, but with clear responsibilities, human oversight and assessment of the effects on work.
Values Reliability, proportionality and feasibility.
Consequences A phased approach can increase trust, but requires time and investment in oversight and skills.
Right
Arguments AI agents can make companies more productive and competitive if employers are given room to renew processes quickly. The emphasis is on entrepreneurship, adaptability and individual training.
Values Innovation, economic growth and freedom to run a business.
Consequences Faster adoption can deliver efficiency and create new jobs, but increases pressure on workers who cannot keep up in time.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The figures were checked against HP’s methodological description and a publicly available dpa-AFX report. The article explicitly distinguishes between survey results, associations and proven effects.
- confirmed HP surveyed 19,506 office workers in fifteen countries. — The sample and list of countries are set out in HP’s methodology. source
- confirmed Worldwide, 47 per cent of respondents use AI agents. — Mentioned in HP’s official press release. source
- confirmed In Germany, 49 per cent of the workers surveyed use AI agents. — Reported by dpa-AFX on the basis of the HP index. source
- confirmed The survey is not automatically representative of all workers. — This follows from the described target group of desk-based workers and the survey design. source
Editor's note
The global figures and methodology come from the HP study. The German 49 per cent figure was checked against a publicly available dpa-AFX report; it remains a survey paid for and conducted by HP, not an independent labour-market measurement.Sources
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