New Delhi : Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been identified as the most influential workplace innovation of the past 300 years, according to a landmark report released by the International Workplace Group (IWG) to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the modern office.
The report, titled “IWG: 300 Years of Office Innovation,” surveyed business leaders across the globe and found that 36 per cent of CEOs ranked AI as the most significant technological advancement in workplace history. AI was followed by laptops and tablets (35%), video conferencing platforms such as Teams and Zoom (31%), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity (29%), and hybrid working (26%).
The study marks 300 years since the opening of London’s Old Admiralty Building in 1726, regarded as the world’s first purpose-built office. In India, Kolkata’s Writers’ Building, completed in 1780, is considered the country’s first purpose-built office, while Chennai’s Fort St. George began functioning as a secretariat in 1782.
The findings highlight the scale of the technological transformation taking place in workplaces today. CEOs believe the ongoing AI-driven shift is as significant as earlier milestones such as the typewriter, personal computer, smartphone and internet.
The report comes amid growing adoption of AI in Indian workplaces. Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index found that 93 per cent of Indian business leaders planned to deploy AI agents within 12 to 18 months to enhance workforce capabilities.
Hybrid working has also emerged as a defining trend, with more than a quarter of CEOs identifying it as one of the most transformative workplace innovations. About 35 per cent said technology has made it easier for employees to work from anywhere, while 30 per cent noted that meetings are now more likely to be virtual than in person.
Reflecting broader workplace changes, 83 per cent of CEOs described recent shifts in work practices as positive, and 81 per cent said modern workplaces are better designed for collaboration and productivity.
“AI represents the most significant shift in workplace life since the modern office first emerged,” said Mark Dixon, CEO and Founder of IWG. “It is fundamentally changing how, where and why people work.”