EY’s Work Reimagined 2025 study finds AI use is widespread (88% of employees), yet only 28% of organisations have positioned employees to achieve its transformative business impact. Despite heavy investment, most report limited ROI, reflecting an “AI productivity paradox.” The research identifies five differentiators among leaders: having the right approach to recruiting and retaining talent; driving AI adoption at scale; building continuous learning into daily operations; reshaping culture and workplace norms; and aligning rewards with new behaviours and outcomes. Crucially, technology without robust talent foundations can depress productivity by over 40%. The report underscores the need to build Talent Advantage through talent health, learning culture and strategic rewards to amplify AI adoption excellence.