AI in the Workplace: Growing Use Amid Widespread Skepticism

An increasing number of American workers are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily tasks, but concerns about job security are prevalent.

According to a recent Gallup poll, there’s been a rise in anxiety about job displacement as AI becomes more common in the workplace. Many employees who aren’t using AI express a preference for traditional methods, citing ethical concerns or fears about data privacy.

The survey, carried out in February, illustrates a split in how AI is impacting U.S. workplaces. Some see it as a gamechanger for productivity, while others worry about its adverse effects.

For instance, Scott Segal, a social worker, utilizes AI regularly to help connect senior patients with health resources in northern Virginia. While he values the personal touch he brings to his role, he also contemplates the potential for AI to make his job obsolete.

“I’m planning ahead,” Segal, 53, noted. “I think anyone in a position that can be replaced should be preparing for what’s next.”

In terms of utilization, around 30% of employees report using AI frequently—daily or several times a week. Another 20% engage with AI tools less often, like monthly or yearly.

About 40% of workers say their organizations are adopting AI to enhance practices, and approximately two-thirds believe that using AI positively impacts their efficiency and output.

Interestingly, those in management roles tend to be more optimistic about AI’s contributions than individual contributors. About 70% of leaders using AI a few times a year say it has improved their efficiency, compared to just over half of individual contributors.

Labor attorney Elizabeth Bloch, based in Baton Rouge, mentioned that she relies on ChatGPT for drafting communications in her often confrontational field.

AI seems to provide more benefits to employees in managerial, healthcare, and tech sectors compared to service roles. Around 60% in these more specialized fields feel that AI has enhanced their productivity, versus 45% in service jobs.

However, even with AI tools available, adoption is not guaranteed. The survey found that about half of U.S. employees engage with AI only once a year or not at all.

Bloch recounted her attempts to use AI for legal research but found it to be unreliable at times, producing inaccurate results even with tools designed for her profession. She worries that less experienced lawyers may struggle further with AI, leading to errors that could have serious consequences in court.

Among those with access to AI, 46% prefer sticking to their current workflows. About 40% express ethical objections or privacy concerns, doubting AI’s utility for their roles.

Thuy Pisone, a contract administrator in Maryland, uses AI for routine tasks but chooses to handle skills she’s honed over time on her own, as she explains, “I could create my own PowerPoint presentations. I don’t need help because it took time to develop those skills.”

Concerns over job security are on the rise, even if they aren’t the primary reason for avoiding AI. The poll indicates 18% of workers believe it’s likely they’ll lose their jobs to technology within five years, an increase from 15% the previous year. Employees at companies employing AI are even more worried, with 23% acknowledging a similar likelihood.

A recent poll shows that around 60% of registered voters think AI will lead to more job losses than creation in the coming five years. Only about 10% expect net job increases, while a third feel it’s premature to make such predictions. Interestingly, 70% of employed voters express minimal concern regarding job loss from AI.

Segal, the social worker, has thought about starting a “healthcare chaperone service” to help patients who may not have family members to assist them after appointments, especially following sedation. He believes roles like this will be safe for a while yet, as “I don’t think that’s something that will be replaced for another maybe 10 or 15 years.”

As he navigates these changes, Segal has been consulting AI chatbots for retirement savings strategies.

The Gallup workforce survey interviewed a random sample of working adults aged 18 and older in the U.S., with the latest survey gathering responses from 23,717 individuals between February 4 and 19, 2026. The margin of error is plus or minus 0.9 percentage points.