Artificial intelligence and generative AI (GenAI) have risen to the forefront of workplace concerns, with employees globally now ranking them among the top three megatrends, according to The Adecco Group’s Workforce Trends 2026 Report.
The report is based on insights from 37,500 workers and 2,000 C-suite executives across 31 countries.
While AI ranks first and GenAI third, from seventh and ninth place, respectively, in 2024, geopolitical uncertainty ranked second in the 2025 top influential megatrends.
The Adecco Group’s research also found that C-suite executives have placed AI (third place) and GenAI (second) in the top three influences in their own rankings for two years in a row.
According to the report, organisations are struggling to keep up with demand for AI upskilling. It comes as 71% of workers agree that their knowledge of AI has gone beyond the level of training offered by their employers.
Meanwhile, salary and work-life balance topped the list of reasons to both stay and leave a job. For the first time in four years, workers are staying in their jobs for the stable salary.
In 2024, salary ranked in ninth place for reasons to stay with an employer, but surged to third place in 2025. At the same time, salary has consistently been the number one reason to quit, year on year, and remained unchanged in 2025.
When it comes to reasons to stay, work-life balance ranked first, tied with company culture. This was followed by salary.
Salary topped the list of reasons to quit, followed by a better work-life balance and a lack of career progression.
“The world of work is at a pivotal moment,” Denis Machuel, CEO of The Adecco Group, said in a press release. “The workforce is sending a clear message: people want stability, fair pay and real opportunities to grow.”
“Purpose remains crucial, but people demand security during these times of constant change,” Machuel added.
“When we put job stability, workforce agility and inclusion at the heart of our strategy, we don’t just keep up with change – we lead it. The future belongs to organisations that lead with empathy, that listen, adapt and make every worker feel valued and those who invest to accompany their people to stay ahead of the change curve.”
Construction equipment giant Caterpillar has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to improve job site safety and boost efficiency as the industry grapples with labor shortages.
Speaking on Wednesday on FOX Business’ "The Claman Countdown" from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, Caterpillar CEO Joseph Creed highlighted the company's new Cat AI Assistant, which he said helps shorten training time for new operators while improving productivity and safety.
"Some of the things I hear when I talk to customers are, 'Hey, we have a shortage of operators, and we have new operators that aren't skilled and experienced, so the training time is really hard,'" Creed said. "And then, most importantly, safety. So the Cat AI Assistant helps address all these things.
Joe Creed, CEO of Caterpillar Inc., speaks during the 2026 CES event in Las Vegas Jan. 7, 2026. (Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"It's essentially a personal assistant for an operator in the cab or a technician that wants to fix the machine."
Powered by NVIDIA’s Riva speech models, the Cat AI Assistant allows operators to ask questions in real time and receive tailored recommendations related to equipment operation, parts, and maintenance, according to Caterpillar.
During a demonstration using a simulated construction site at CES, Creed showed FOX Business how operators can speak directly to the machine to activate safety features in real time, including protections that help machines avoid overhead power lines.
The Cat AI Assistant interface was displayed at the Caterpillar booth during the 2026 CES event in Las Vegas Jan. 7, 2026. (Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"So, these are power lines that you would see on a construction site," Creed said. "That's a challenge for our customers. So, it's a safety concern if the boom hits it. It also can set the job back by days or weeks."
Using voice commands, operators can ask the AI assistant about available safety features and set height limits that prevent an excavator’s boom from rising too high, helping crews avoid contact with power lines.
The technology can also recognize people on job sites and help keep them out of harm’s way, Creed said.
"The Cat AI Assistant, paired with autonomy and autonomous systems that now we can do on the edge with our partnership with NVIDIA, really just is a game changer when it comes to recognition, safety, keeping people safe, making sure they return home to their families," he said.
A view of a Caterpillar excavator at CES 2026 Jan. 6, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
At CES 2026, Creed also took the keynote stage to showcase how artificial intelligence is shaping the next generation of heavy equipment.
Caterpillar and NVIDIA announced an expanded collaboration aimed at accelerating the use of AI across machines and production systems, according to the construction company's website.