Forget pandemics, 51% of workers believe AI will make physical offices obsolete

A new study reveals that 51% of workers believe artificial intelligence will eventually make physical offices obsolete, as AI tools increasingly enable remote work capabilities. The research, conducted by GoTo, an IT software company, and Workplace Intelligence, a market research firm, surveyed 2,500 workers across 10 countries and suggests AI is accelerating the cultural shift away from traditional office environments while raising complex questions about the future of workplace dynamics.

What you should know: The majority of survey respondents see AI as a catalyst for improved work flexibility and productivity outside traditional office settings.

• 71% of workers believe AI could improve their work-life balance.
• 66% think AI allows them to work from anywhere without compromising productivity levels.
• 65% say AI enables better customer service while working remotely.
• The study included equal samples of in-office, hybrid, and remote employees across 10 countries.

The big picture: AI tools are breaking down traditional barriers to remote work, but this creates tension with many employers’ push for return-to-office mandates.

• “AI is rapidly evolving from a helpful tool to a foundational force shaping the future of work,” said GoTo CEO Rich Veldran.
• Companies face pressure to adopt AI tools while simultaneously encouraging more in-person work, creating potentially contradictory workplace strategies.

The reality check: Despite AI’s promises of liberation from mundane tasks, implementation has raised new workplace concerns.

• Organizations implementing AI agents face questions about human agency and critical thinking skills erosion.
• Heavy AI usage has been connected to employee burnout in some cases.
• Recent high-profile AI releases like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Codex and GPT-5 have received mixed reviews at best.

Why this matters: The study validates tech companies’ marketing claims about AI boosting productivity and well-being, but the actual impact depends on how effectively these tools are implemented in practice. As AI continues reshaping work patterns, employers must navigate the tension between embracing automation and maintaining human-centered workplace cultures.