Everyday AI and digital employee experience (DEX) are expected to reach mainstream adoption in less than two years according to the Gartner, Inc. Hype Cycle for Digital Workplace Applications, 2024.

“Everyday AI promises to remove digital friction, by helping employees write, research, collaborate and ideate,” said Matt Cain, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner in a statement.

 “It is a core part of DEX, which is a concentrated effort to remove digital friction and improve workforce digital dexterity, which itself is one of the key factors that will drive organizational prosperity through 2030,” added Cain. 

Gartner said that 2024 has been a critical year for digital workplace application leaders, as the focus on hybrid and remote work dwindles and the need for a strategic concentration on everyday AI rises. 

“Everyday AI is placed on the Peak of Inflated Expectations on the Gartner Hype Cycle for Digital Workplace Applications, 2024,” the statement said. 

As technology vendors explore new avenues to boost worker productivity beyond conventional application and feature upgrades, they should consider the potential of Everyday AI. It is a technology that not only enhances productivity but also introduces marketable innovations, such as tools that help workers quickly locate and synthesize relevant information, provide more comprehensive answers, and streamline the creation of work artifacts.

“Everyday AI technology aims to help employees deliver work with speed, comprehensiveness and confidence,” said Adam Preset, VP Analyst at Gartner.

“It supports a new way of working, where intelligent software is acting as more of a collaborator than a tool. The digital workplace is now entering the era of everyday AI.”

Organisations must have a DEX Strategy

As employees increasingly rely on technology in their daily work, nearly all are becoming digital employees. In response, organisations must develop strategies to measure and improve Digital Employee Experience (DEX) to attract and retain talent, enhance employee engagement, and maximise discretionary effort and intent to stay.

Business leaders are seeking guidance on leveraging technology to boost productivity and organisational alignment. DEX focuses on best practices that enhance digital dexterity, attract and retain talent, and enable employees to achieve business outcomes.

Currently, DEX is in the Trough of Disillusionment on the Hype Cycle, indicating that interest is declining as experiments and implementations fall short of expectations.

To revitalise interest and relevance in DEX, Gartner recommends business leaders to adopt a holistic approach that involves both IT and non-IT partners, creating a meaningful environment that empowers employees to embrace new ways of working.