US Workers Have Doubts About AI in the Workplace, Survey Finds

New survey data from Pew Research Center shows only one-sixth (16%) of US workers are using AI in their jobs, and most of them worry about the impact the technology will have in the workplace.

The survey of 5,273 employed US adults taken last October suggests that workers have a lot of ambivalence about the future role AI will play in their jobs, with more than half (52%) more worried than hopeful about AI’s impact. Almost a third, 32%, believe AI will lead to fewer job opportunities. That figure increases to 37% for those in lower-income jobs. 

Surprisingly, given the attention they generate, AI chatbots are not as popular as some might think. A majority, 55%, say they don’t use AI chatbots at all or use them rarely. Only one in 10 workers use AI chatbots every day or a few times a week.

The Pew data seems counter to businesses’ vast investments in AI, with some estimates putting the figure at $1 trillion across industries. Companies including Apple, Google, OpenAI and Meta have rushed to position themselves as leaders in the AI space, debuting large-language AI models such as ChatGPT and Gemini that they hope people will adopt for work and everyday tasks. The investments AI-focused companies have made and the energy and data requirements for AI have recently been called into question with the emergence of cheaper, more efficient models such as China’s DeepSeek. 

But despite all the money and hype around AI, Pew’s findings were not particularly surprising to some who are studying the impact of the technology, including Winnie Kroculick and Antara Dutta, the co-authors of Own Your Future – AI for All, which will be published in April.

Kroculick and Dutta, who both have worked in the financial industry, say Pew’s findings align with what they discovered researching their book.

“Technology change and disruption patterns typically create two distinct outcomes: fear and eager anticipation. AI is following these typical patterns, although somewhat accelerated,” Kroculick told CNET. “Those who are eager to use AI are likely the traditional early adopters and they embrace disruption and can see AI’s value in transforming and improving the way organizations operate. On the other hand, the fearful are at risk of being left behind, unless they adapt and ultimately embrace the changing technology.”

Read more: Here Are 5 Jobs AI Will Create — and 5 Roles AI Will Change

Dutta added that there’s a schism between company leaders, who see AI as improving efficiency, reducing costs, and driving innovation, and employees, who may see AI as a threat to their job security.

Employees, Dutta said, “need to proactively examine their role and functions and assess where AI can solve repetitive tasks. While this may be scary for the employee, being proactive in assessing their own role will help them identify new opportunities and ultimately own their future in the workplace.”

Early AI adopters tend to be younger, Kroculick said. She advises older users and anyone who wants to remain employed to start adopting it. “Being proactive is the way forward or you will risk being left behind,” she said.