Author Dr. Jessica Sylvester examines the “productivity paradox” and offers human-centered strategies for AI adoption in the workplace

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “Reinventing Productivity: Aligning AI Innovation with Human Potential in the Modern Workforce,” by Jessica Sylvester, Ed.D., MBA, Senior Manager of College Operations and associate faculty member at the University, and a research fellow with the University’s Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). The analysis explores why rising investment in artificial intelligence (AI) has not consistently translated into productivity gains and outlines leadership practices that center worker autonomy, well-being and equitable access to skill development.

Drawing on insights from the University of Phoenix Career Optimism Index® study and related scholarship, the paper highlights findings such as: persistent employee burnout (51% of U.S. workers), limited employer-provided AI training (only 34% offer it), and markedly better experiences among employees who use AI—who are 2.5 times more likely to feel autonomy at work and more likely to report career control and reduced burnout.

“The conversation about AI can’t begin and end with tools; it must start with people,” said Sylvester. “When organizations adopt AI with transparency, build AI literacy, and redesign roles for flexibility, the technology augments human capability rather than eroding it. That is how we close the gap between innovation and impact.”

The white paper offers practical, human-centered recommendations for employers and policymakers, including embedding ethics within AI training, fostering psychological safety, prioritizing internal mobility, and aligning role design with flexibility and well-being. These strategies, the paper argues, help organizations realize productivity gains while advancing outcomes across their workforces.

Sylvester, a higher-education leader with more than 18 years of experience and an associate faculty member with the University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Education, and College of Business and Information Technology, authored the paper through the University’s research ecosystem. Sylvester earned her Doctor of Education, specializing in Higher Education Administration, and a Master of Business Administration at University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Social Work at Arizona State University.

The full white paper is available on the University of Phoenix Career Institute® webpage or on the Research Hub.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

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