Excitement, uncertainty, and unease. Let’s just say AI is leading to high anxiety among employees, according to new research on AI in the workplace. Biggest worries include loss of skills, job layoffs, overreliance on AI technology, and turning to tech over their colleagues.
The new report, AI Anxiety in the Workplace: Key Insights and Trends, by Howdy.com, provides some surprising employee insights and dilemmas for employers.
Skill Loss and Overreliance
One in five workers already reports losing skills they once relied on because of AI. Nearly one in 10 say they depend entirely on AI to do their jobs — yet 37% judge colleagues who do the same. And while 64% of workers think they can spot AI-generated images, only 33% actually can, raising red flags for digital trust.
The challenge for employees is simple. They need to use AI tools to stay competitive. Some are paying for it out of their own pocket because employers are not providing training or reimbursement.
Doubts About AI’s Staying Power
More than a third of workers (37%) believe AI is an economic bubble that could burst. About 19% worry their company’s AI strategy won’t last, and another 19% fear losing their jobs to automation. Still, many are taking action: 32% are upskilling, and 17% plan to pursue higher degrees to protect their careers.
Who isn’t confused and uncertain about AI? Only 5% of companies are seeing solid ROI on their AI projects so far. Profits are just a dream for the most prominent AI companies, and they’ve sucked up the lion’s share of VC funding so far.
Shifts in Workplace Relationships
Nearly one in five employees admit to hiding their AI use from colleagues, while 1 in 10 have even named their AI tools. For 20% of workers, AI is preferable to interacting with coworkers, and almost one in six report forming friendships — or even romantic feelings — with AI. Remote workers feel it most: 29% talk more with AI than with colleagues.
No big surprise here! Most LLMs tell you what you want to hear unless you are very skilled at prompting. I’ll take a passionate debate or brainstorming session with a colleague face-to-face any time.
Gen Z’s Double-Edged Embrace
Gen Z is leaning hardest into AI, with 14% relying entirely on it for their jobs and 49% saying they’re more reliant on it in daily life. But many feel conflicted: 28% believe AI makes them “more stupid,” and 8% say they’ve had to take on a second job due to AI disruption.
Sometimes, I think Gen Z sells itself short. If AI is making you “more stupid”, you need to rethink how you use it.
Employer Takeaway
AI is here to stay — but so is the anxiety it creates. Employers have a clear mandate: invest in training, support upskilling, and strengthen human connections in the workplace. AI should be a tool that augments people, not replaces their skills or relationships.
Full report here: AI Anxiety in the Workplace: Key Insights and Trends
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