A/NZ AI Anxiety Remains Despite Broad Recognition Of Value: ManageEngine Study

Sydney, AUSTRALIA — 11 June, 2025 —
ManageEngine, a
division of Zoho Corporation and leading provider of
enterprise IT management solutions, today announced results
from its study, Navigating
AI anxiety: A/NZ organisations in 2025. The study,
which consisted of more than 300 IT decision-makers and
professionals across Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ),
reveals a growing tension between enthusiasm for AI and
anxiety over its implementation.

Nearly two-thirds (63
per cent) of respondents believe they can’t afford to ignore
AI, highlighting the technology’s growing influence in
shaping business strategy and competitiveness. Yet, more
than half (57 per cent) also admit to feeling anxious about
integrating AI into their operations, citing a lack of
skills, resources, and clarity around its long-term
impact.

This study, commissioned by ManageEngine and
conducted by Telsyte, gathered insights from 300 ICT
professionals and decision-makers across small-to-medium
businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises.

AI anxiety
hits the workforce

The findings reveal that AI is
seen as a critical driver of efficiency (49 per cent),
better customer experience (48 per cent), enhanced
cybersecurity (44 per cent), and cost reduction (42 per
cent). However, this level of adoption is also triggering
significant anxiety about job security, the adoption of new
technologies, and the challenge of keeping pace with AI
advances among employees.

The impact of this
transition is becoming increasingly apparent. More than half
of the respondents (59 per cent) report frequent stress when
it comes to keeping pace with AI advancements, with a
similar percentage feeling less secure about their
jobs.

Over a third (34 per cent) say this pressure
makes them more hesitant to adopt new technologies
altogether, despite 76 per cent of respondents acknowledging
clear benefits from using AI in the
workplace.

Organisations respond, but is it
enough?

Seventy percent of respondents believe their
organisations have been effective in addressing employee
stress. Despite this, nearly half (43 per cent) of
respondents say they will need a clearer, more comprehensive
plan to manage the impact of AI, and 52 per cent revealed
that more training, resources, and communication are
essential. Similarly, 51 per cent are calling for stronger
ethical guidelines and more human oversight in AI
applications.

“The AI adoption is clearly underway
across Australia and New Zealand, said Rajesh Ganesan CEO at
ManageEngine. While it is encouraging to see organisations
already have good adoption of AI, it is both surprising and
concerning to see the skill gap being the biggest barrier to
fully leveraging AI. Organisations must invest in that area
to not only see the RoI but also to ensure it does not open
backdoors and additional vectors for attacks. Simply
deploying AI is not enough anymore—organisations must
consider implementing AI in a manner that supports outcomes
that are employee centric.”

Other Key
Findings

• In terms of AI implementation,
  enterprises in A/NZ are slightly ahead, with 95 per cent
  adoption compared to 89 per cent among SMBs.
• The
  majority (97 per cent) of A/NZ respondents say they lack
  some form of AI skills, highlighting the need for upskilling
  in integrations, machine learning, and model
  training.
• 75 per cent of ICT professionals and
  leaders surveyed are confident in their organisation’s
  mandates and policies in ensuring the ethical use of
  AI.

As organisations across A/NZ continue to
adapt and evolve, this report highlights the need for an
employee-centric AI integration approach.

The full
report, Navigating AI anxiety: A/NZ organisations in
2025, is available for download
here.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is a
division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of IT
management solutions for organizations across the world.
With a powerful, flexible, and AI-powered digital enterprise
management platform, we help businesses get their work done
from anywhere and everywhere—better, safer, and faster. To
learn more, visit www.manageengine.com.

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