Survey shows where presentation AI works best – and where it doesn’t

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If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn, which we’re assuming you have if you’re reading this newsletter, then you’ve probably seen people touting AI playbooks for presentation creation that sound almost too good to be true.

With all the noise about AI adoption and the best use cases, we’re interested in precisely how professionals use this technology to improve their workflows in the real world.

The following results are based on our report, The state of AI in business presentation creation 2026. This comprehensive global survey of 1,200 professionals across 12 countries shows how professionals build presentations and how AI is changing that process.

Visit our website to download the full report or read on for some key insights.

AI saves the most time for tasks involving language, reasoning, and data

Efficiency is the main promise of AI. For professionals making presentations, the number one task where AI saves time is gathering and analyzing data (20%), followed by creating executive summaries or key takeaways (14%), and reviewing and refining content (14%).

So what? The survey found that the tasks where AI saves professionals the most time are the same use cases where adoption and satisfaction are also the highest. Using AI for more complex tasks, like creating entire business presentations from scratch, leads to smaller productivity gains.

Integrated or not: AI adoption depends on the type of tool being used

AI users fall broadly into two groups: those using tools inside PowerPoint and those using browser-based AI tools. The survey found that professionals who work with PowerPoint-integrated AI perform a wider range of presentation tasks, showing that workflow fit is a key differentiator.

So what? Most of the people surveyed only use one AI tool for presentations. Deep integration within PowerPoint helps users find more ways to add value to their presentation creation process, without upending their existing workflow.

Chart creation is a top unmet AI capability

Among professionals who have tried AI tools and then stopped using them, the most valuable missing capability was chart creation. Across all users, the strongest demand is for AI support that creates clear slide text, summaries, and takeaways for their presentations.

So what? A significant chunk of professionals are looking for an AI tool that generates high-quality charts, but for many, the tools they’ve tried haven’t yet been able to deliver the reliable data, professional layouts, and the ability to add their own expert insights that are essential for impactful business communication.

Security and accuracy concerns persist around AI

Despite high AI adoption rates globally, professionals have concerns about data privacy and security, as well as the accuracy of AI-generated outputs. Only 11% of professionals surveyed said they had no concerns at all about using AI for presentations.

So what? For professionals making presentations, concerns with AI are based on real, tangible risks to their business. If outputs are inaccurate, generic, or simply fall short of the standards required for high-stakes decks, then at best they’ll create extra review work. At worst, they’ll lead to miscommunication and potentially harmful business decisions.

Power users and non-users expect their usage of AI for presentations to increase

AI power users can’t get enough and expect to increase their usage significantly in the next 12 months. Half of those who have tried AI tools but stopped using them also expect to be using more AI in a year’s time.

So what? The people embracing AI most actively are also the happiest with the results and expect to use it more. Others, however, still find AI-powered presentation workflows insufficient or disjointed. There’s an opportunity for organizations to close that gap with easy-to-use tools that help occasional or former users become confident power users.