AI is Disguising Procrastination as Productivity

Drawing on assessment data from more than 23,000 people, including 3,159 professionals across 25 organisations, alongside new 2026 survey findings and methodologies developed with UCL support, the research found that uncertainty-driven procrastination was already widespread before the rise of generative AI. By 2023, almost eight in ten professionals reported some form of procrastination in response to uncertainty, up from six in ten in 2021, with levels remaining largely unchanged since.

The findings suggest AI may simply be changing what procrastination looks like. While workplace technology has evolved rapidly, the underlying tendency to delay decisions when faced with uncertainty has changed little.

Sam Conniff, Chief Uncertainty Officer at Mediazoo Group, said: "Every wave of workplace technology has been sold on the promise of giving us time back. Yet somehow the day always ends up feeling fuller. If admin once gave procrastination somewhere to hide, AI can dress it up as hyperproductivity."

Uncertainty Experts will host an online Procrastination Nation Masterclass on 13 October 2026, sharing key findings and practical insights for leaders navigating uncertainty and change.

The full findings will be unveiled in the forthcoming Procrastination Nation report, which explores the relationship between uncertainty, decision-making, organisational performance and AI adoption, while providing practical tools to help individuals and teams act with greater confidence.