AI adoption creates hidden organizational culture debt

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in companies is creating what experts call ‘culture debt.’ While one in three companies in Serbia is already using AI, many treat it as a mere technological upgrade rather than a fundamental shift in how people work and collaborate.

A global study by Deloitte and Oxford Economics, involving over 9,000 managers across 89 countries, highlights this disconnect. Approximately 65 percent of organizations believe their culture must change significantly due to AI, while 34 percent admit their current culture is hindering AI implementation. Furthermore, 42 percent of employees report that their companies rarely or never assess the impact of AI on people.

Sanja Jevđenijević, founder of HR Xcel, warns that this debt accumulates unnoticed, often manifesting as a breakdown in trust. The research shows that 80 percent of respondents, including leaders and employees, fear colleagues may use AI to appear more productive than they actually are, which can silently erode teamwork and collaboration.