Business Insider · 9 Oct, 09:44 · Business briefing

McKinsey top exec: AI is making workers, not companies, more productive

A senior executive at McKinsey has stated that artificial intelligence is currently enhancing individual worker productivity rather than driving aggregate company-level gains.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A senior executive at McKinsey has stated that artificial intelligence is currently enhancing individual worker productivity rather than driving aggregate company-level gains. This observation suggests that while AI tools empower employees to perform tasks more efficiently, organisations are not yet fully capturing these benefits through systemic improvements or scalable operational changes. The report highlights a disconnect between personal output enhancements and broader corporate performance metrics. For professionals, this indicates that immediate value lies in personal adoption of AI tools, while organisations may lag in integrating these capabilities into wider strategic frameworks for sustained competitive advantage.

Employer demand for Medical Physics skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must pivot from viewing AI as a corporate mandate to treating it as a personal productivity multiplier. Since individual output is rising, your career value now hinges on your ability to leverage these tools effectively. Prioritise skills in prompt engineering, data literacy, and automated workflow design. Professionals who ignore this shift risk obsolescence, while those who adapt will command premium rates for their enhanced efficiency. Start by auditing your daily tasks for automation opportunities. Master the specific AI applications relevant to your sector, and document the time saved. This tangible evidence of increased output strengthens your case for promotion or higher compensation. Do not wait for your organisation to lead; demonstrate the value yourself by integrating AI into your core responsibilities immediately.

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Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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