FT-Focaldata poll reveals early signs of AI deepening workplace inequality, with high-earning professionals adopting the technology at twice the rate of others. This disparity is amplifying existing gender and pay gaps, as male-dominated tech roles gain disproportionate access to AI tools that boost productivity. The poll, conducted among 1,200 workers across industries, found 68% of executives using AI for decision-making versus 34% of lower-paid employees. Gender divides are stark: 72% of male respondents reported AI integration in their workflows compared to 49% of females. These trends suggest AI may not only automate routine tasks but also create new hierarchies where tech-savvy elites gain outsized economic returns.

The divide stems from unequal access to AI training and infrastructure. Companies with robust digital transformation budgets—often led by male executives—are deploying AI across sales, R&D, and operations, while smaller firms and female-led organizations lag. This mirrors broader patterns where high earners (defined as those in the top 20% of income brackets) secure 85% of AI-related raises, per internal company data cited in the report. The gap is particularly pronounced in tech and finance sectors, where AI tools like generative models are monetized through premium subscriptions or custom integrations. Critics argue this risks entrenching systemic inequalities unless regulators mandate equitable access to emerging technologies.

For investors, the implications are clear: companies failing to democratize AI adoption risk losing talent and market share. The poll highlights a $2.1M average productivity premium for firms heavily investing in AI compared to laggards, a figure derived from productivity metrics of 500 participating businesses. However, this benefit is unevenly distributed, with male-dominated teams seeing 3.5x higher returns than female-led counterparts. As AI becomes a competitive necessity, the financial community must address both ethical and economic risks. Without intervention, the technology could solidify a two-tiered labor market where innovation rewards are concentrated among a privileged few. The FT’s analysis underscores that closing this gap isn’t just a social imperative—it’s a business one.