Originally published: HR Leader, 9 October 2026
New research shows that more than one in two Australian managers who use artificial intelligence at work have applied it to at least one sensitive people management responsibility.
A new survey, commissioned by Dynamic Leadership Programs Australia (DLPA) and conducted by Pureprofile, has found that 53 per cent of Australian managers who use AI have used it for at least one sensitive management task. These include preparing for or managing difficult feedback, performance reviews, conflict and employee complaints.
Where managers are using AI
Among AI-using managers surveyed, 22 per cent had used the technology for performance reviews. Another 19 per cent had used it to respond to complaints, and 19 per cent had used it for difficult conversations. A further 18 per cent had used it to deliver difficult feedback.
Some 15 per cent of managers using AI said they used it to help manage conflict, while 12 per cent cited avoiding difficult conversations as a reason for using AI at work.
The research also found that senior leaders and managers were significantly more likely than other AI users to rely on the technology for workplace communication tasks.
The survey was commissioned by DLPA and conducted by Pureprofile among 1,008 Australian business leaders and workers, representing the total Australian workforce, in mid-August of this year. The total sample was nationally representative by age, gender and location.
