AI is changing work fast and Gartner’s 2026 Future of Work trends highlight a tension many of us are already experiencing: organizations are moving toward AI-enabled productivity expectations, but the human and cultural systems often haven’t caught up. 

In particular, Gartner flags three realities OD leaders cannot ignore:

• “RIFs before reality” — layoffs based on anticipated AI productivity gains (even though only a small portion of layoffs have been directly caused by AI productivity to date).
  

• “Culture dissonance” — higher performance expectations without a corresponding upgrade in employee value proposition.
  

• “Workslop” — faster output, lower quality, and rising hidden friction in work.