Samsung Canada survey finds tech helps Canadians move faster, but digital busywork is still getting in the way

New research from Samsung Canada reveals a growing productivity paradox, with technology amplifying both capability and complexity in everyday life.

Three-quarters (75%) of Canadians say technology helps them get things done faster, yet 68% say it also gives them more to manage, according to a new survey of 1,547 adults. The tension even extends to Gen Z, as more than half say manual steps and app switching stand in the way of getting things done.

The data points to a clear expectation from Canadians: Technology should not only help them accomplish their goals, but also simplify the steps along the way. More than half (57%) agree that the more digital tools they use, the more they have to manage.

“Technology has delivered enormous gains in what people can accomplish, but these findings show that more capability doesn’t automatically mean less effort,” said Tarik Akad, Vice President of the Mobile Experience Division, Samsung Canada. “The industry’s challenge now is not simply adding more intelligent features. It is making that intelligence almost invisible, working in the background to surface what matters, remove unnecessary steps and make everything else feel simpler.”

Digital Friction Creates Extra Work

For many Canadians, extra work shows up in routine digital tasks at least a few times a week:

• Messages and notifications: 77% say managing messages and notifications creates unnecessary effort or slows them down
• Searching for information: 70% say searching for information they know they’ve already received or seen creates unnecessary effort or slows them down
• Competing demands: 66% say keeping track of multiple tasks or conversations at once creates unnecessary effort or slows them down.
• Switching between apps: 62% say moving between apps or digital services creates unnecessary effort or slows them down

The effects extend beyond time lost. At least a few times per week, 59% of Canadians say they feel mentally drained or overwhelmed when technology, information or competing priorities make it harder to get things done, while 57% spend more time deciding what to do next than actually doing it. And nearly half (46%) agree they often end the day feeling busy without feeling as productive as expected.

The findings reveal an opportunity for mobile experiences to reduce some of those everyday challenges. Samsung Galaxy devices bring AI-powered features into the moments people need them, with tools like Now Brief[1] and Now Nudge[2] helping users stay on top of relevant information and trim their to-do lists in fewer steps.

Gen Z Is Ready For AI To Do More

Even for Gen Z, growing up with technology hasn’t eliminated digital friction. More than half of Gen Z (58%) agree to spending too much time on manual steps just to make technology work, while 51% say switching between apps or digital services creates unnecessary effort or slows them down at least daily. More than half (53%) feel mentally drained or overwhelmed at least daily when technology, information or competing priorities get in the way.

At the same time, Gen Z is highly receptive to AI that works harder for them: 83% selected at least one AI feature as potentially valuable for helping them get things done with less effort.

Canadians Want AI To Tackle Busywork

Two-thirds of Canadians (66%) selected at least one AI feature as being potentially valuable for helping them get things done with less effort. They see value in simplifying information, automating repetitive tasks, supporting decision making and bringing information together across apps and services.

The same desire for simplicity extends to everyday mobile experiences. Reducing the number of steps needed to complete a task was the most frequently selected improvement (38%), followed by bringing relevant information together rather than searching across apps (30%).

Other priorities included completing more tasks without switching devices (29%), moving between tasks without losing their place (29%), reducing distractions (25%) and viewing multiple pieces of information at once (23%).

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Survey Methodology:

The Productivity Gap survey was conducted on behalf of Samsung Electronics Canada using the Leger Opinion panel platform with 1,547 Canadian adults aged 18+. The study was conducted between August 31 and September 2, 2026, and was conducted in English and French. Results were weighted by age, gender and region to match the population according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability-based sample of 1,500 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

[1] Now Brief feature requires Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model, apps. Some features may require a network connection. Modes and Routines need to be enabled to use Personal Data Engine for context-based Routines suggestions. User needs to consent to access permissions such as photos, videos, audio files, and calendar events. May not display moments depending upon exposure policy. The description of photos provided by moments may not align with the user’s intent. Events schedule notification is supported with calendar apps that utilize Android calendar database and available if Samsung Calendar is installed. Notifications for coupons only available for coupons added to Samsung Wallet with expiration date. To check the Energy Score, the health data tracked from Samsung Galaxy Watch or Samsung Galaxy Ring must be synchronized with the Samsung Health App. The result is for your personal reference only and is not intended for medical purposes.

[2] Now Nudge feature requires a Samsung Account login. Available functions and features may vary by country, region and language. Text message prompts available with certain third-party messaging apps including Google Messages and Google Chat. Split view supported apps may vary. Share photos in Now Nudge works by analyzing available image content. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.